Sodium channel receptor

ABSTRACT

hSLNAC1 polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing hSLNAC1 polypeptides and polynucleotides in the design of protocols for the treatment of certain diseases and diagnostic assays for such conditions.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded by them an to the end to the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, and to their production. More particularly, the polypeptides of the present invention is a sodium channel receptor, thereinafter referred to as hSLNAC1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The mdeg and epithelial sodium channel family is a recent family of proteins composed of the homomeric or multimeric assembly of two transmembrane domain polypeptides to form a sodium channel (Renard S. et al (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269/17 pp12981-12986; Lingueglia E.et al (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269/19, 13736-13739; Renard S., et al (1995) Pflugers Archiv—Eur. J. Physiol 430,299-307; Lingueglia et al (1995) Nature 378, 730-733; Waldmann et al (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 10433-10436). Members of this family have been described as sodium channels or putative mecanosensitive channels, in numerous tissues from nematode to man. The presence of a large extracellular domain in this protein class suggests that they may play the role of a receptor for some endogenous transmitters. Opening of the channel may be linked to this receptor function. Pharmacological properties of such a receptor are still largely unknown, but the diuretic amiloride is known to block most sodium channels of this family. Agonists or antagonists may be used, for example, to treat neuronal degenerescence problems, hyperalgesia, Alzeihmer disease, Parkinson disease, chorea, muscular spasm, epilepsy, stroke, cardiac diseases, schizophrenia, depression, nicotine dependence, morphine dependence, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, inflammation, pain, cancer, obesity, to mimic or antagonize effect of some endogenous transmitter peptides in the central or peripheral nervous system, such as for instance opioïds or anti-opioïds, to alter gustative perception, to cause analgesia or anesthesia, or to diagnose or treat any disorder related to abnormal expression of this protein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present inventors have found a new class of sodium channel protein. This new subunit may be responsible for some nervous system transmissions, disorders or may be a target to regulate some transmissions linked to various pathologies.

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a novel mature polypeptide which is a sodium channel, as well as fragments, analogs or derivatives. The polypeptide of the present invention is of human origin.

[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there are provided polynucleotides which encode such polypeptide.

[0006] In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques.

[0007] In still another aspect, the invention relates to methods to identify agonists and antagonists using the materials provided by the invention, and treating conditions associated with hSLNAC1 imbalance with said identified compounds.

[0008] Yet another aspect of the invention relates to diagnostic assays for detecting diseases associated with inappropriate hSLNAC1 activity or levels.

[0009] These and other aspects of the present invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] The following drawings are illustrative of the embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates the phylogenic relationship between hSLNAC1 and other members of this sodium channel family. The length of each pair of branches represents the distance between sequence pairs. Alignment was performed with the clustal algorythm of MEGALIGN (version 3.10a) from DNASTAR.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows an aminoacid sequence comparison of the hSLNAC1 receptor with other members of the sodium channel family from the phylogenic tree of FIG. 1. The alignment was performed with the clustal algorythm of MEGALIGN (version 3.10a) from DNASTAR. Regions of homology to SLNAC1 are shaded in black.

[0013] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the terms used have the following meanings:

[0014] hNACHA: alpha subunit of epithelial sodium channel (accession SW SCAA_HUMAN)

[0015] hNACHB; beta subunit of epithelial sodium channel (accession PIR 138203)

[0016] hNACHC: gamma subunit of epithelial sodium channel (accession PIR 138204)

[0017] hNACHD: delta subunit of sodium channel (accession PIR 139196)

[0018] ASIC: ASIC sodium channel (as published in Nature 368, 173-177- accession RNU94403)

[0019] MDEG: MDEG sodium channel (accession gi 1280439)

[0020] HAFANACH: sodium channel protein from aplysia, gated by FRMF-amide (accession gi 1149511).

[0021]FIG. 3 illustrates secondary structural features of this hSLNAC1 protein with the hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, the propency to generate alpha helix, beta sheet, turn or coiled regions, the propency to be on surface of the protein, and the flexible regions. The boxed areas are the areas which correspond to the regions indicated. The hydrophobicity plot illustrates hydrophobic areas of the protein sequence which are in the lipid bilayer and hydrophilic areas which are outside the lipid bilayer. The antigenicity of the protein fragments is higher in areas exposed to the surface, which are hydrophilic and flexible regions. The analysis was performed with Protean (version 3.08a) from DNASTAR.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Definitions

[0023] The following definitions are provided to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

[0024] “Receptor Activity” or “Biological Activity of the Receptor” refers to the metabolic or physiologic function of said hSLNAC1 including similar activities or improved activities or these activities with decreased undesirable side-effects. Also included are antigenic and immunogenic activities of said hSLNAC1.

[0025] “hSLNAC1 polypeptide” refers among others to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or an allelic variant thereof.

[0026] “hSLNAC1 gene” or “hSLNAC1 polynucleotide” refer to a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or allelic variants thereof and/or their complements.

[0027] “Antibodies” as used herein includes polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, chimeric, single chain, and humanized antibodies, as well as Fab fragments, including the products of an Fab or other immunoglobulin expression library.

[0028] “Isolated” means altered “by the hand of man” from the natural state. If an “isolated” composition or substance occurs in nature, it has been changed or removed from its original environment, or both. For example, a polynucleotide or a polypeptide naturally present in a living animal is not “isolated,” but the same polynucleotide or polypeptide separated from the coexisting materials of its natural state is “isolated”, as the term is employed herein.

[0029] “Polynucleotide” generally refers to any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxyribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA.

[0030] “Polynucleotides” include, without limitation single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, “polynucleotide” refers to triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. The term polynucleotide also includes DNAs or RNAs containing one or more modified bases and DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons. “Modified” bases include, for example, tritylated bases and unusual bases such as inosine. A variety of modifications has been made to DNA and RNA; thus, “polynucleotide” embraces chemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of polynucleotides as typically found in nature, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses and cells. “Polynucleotide” also embraces relatively short polynucleotides, often referred to as oligonucleotides.

[0031] “Polypeptide” refers to any peptide or protein comprising two or more amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds, i.e., peptide isosteres. “Polypeptide” refers to both short chains, commonly referred to as peptides, oligopeptides or oligomers, and to longer chains, generally referred to as proteins. Polypeptides may contain amino acids other than the 20 gene-encoded amino acids. “Polypeptides” include amino acid sequences modified either by natural processes, such as posttranslational processing, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. Such modifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailed monographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature. Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be present in the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide. Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications. Polypeptides may be branched as a result of ubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching. Cyclic, branched and branched cyclic polypeptides may result from posttranslation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods. Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cystine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. See, for instance, PROTEINS—STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, 1993 and Wold, F., Posttranslational Protein Modifications: Perspectives and Prospects, pgs. 1-12 in POSTTRANSLATIONAL COVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York, 1983; Seifter et al., “Analysis for protein modifications and nonprotein cofactors”, Meth Enzymol (1990) 182:626-646 and Rattan et aL, “Protein Synthesis: Posttranslational Modifications and Aging”, Ann NY Acad Sci (1992) 663:48-62.

[0032] “Variant” as the term is used herein, is a polynucleotide or polypeptide that differs from a reference polynucleotide or polypeptide respectively, but retains essential properties. A typical variant of a polynucleotide differs in nucleotide sequence from another, reference polynucleotide. Changes in the nucleotide sequence of the variant may or may not alter the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide encoded by the reference polynucleotide. Nucleotide changes may result in amino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations in the polypeptide encoded by the reference sequence, as discussed below. A typical variant of a polypeptide differs in amino acid sequence from another, reference polypeptide. Generally, differences are limited so that the sequences of the reference polypeptide and the variant are closely similar overall and, in many regions, identical. A variant and reference polypeptide may differ in amino acid sequence by one or more substitutions, additions, deletions in any combination. A substituted or inserted amino acid residue may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code. A variant of a polynucleotide or polypeptide may be a naturally occurring such as an allelic variant, or it may be a variant that is not known to occur naturally. Non-naturally occurring variants of polynucleotides and polypeptides may be made by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

[0033] “Identity” is a measure of the identity of nucleotide sequences or amino acid sequences. In general, the sequences are aligned so that the highest order match is obtained. “Identity” per se has an art-recognized meaning and can be calculated using published techniques. See, e.g.: (COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; BIOCOMPUTING: INFORMATICS AND GENOME PROJECTS, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF SEQUENCE DATA, PART I, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey, 1994; SEQUENCE ANALYSIS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, von Heinje, G., Academic Press, 1987; and SEQUENCE ANALYSIS PRIMER, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York, 1991). While there exist a number of methods to measure identity between two polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences, the term “identity” is well known to skilled artisans (Carillo, H., and Lipton, D., SIAM J Applied Math (1988) 48:1073). Methods commonly employed to determine identity or similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in Guide to Huge Computers, Martin J. Bishop, ed., Academic Press, San Diego, 1994, and Carillo, H., and Lipton, D., SIAM J Applied Math (1988) 48:1073. Methods to determine identity and similarity are codified in computer programs. Preferred computer program methods to determine identity and similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, GCS program package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic Acids Research (1984) 12(1):387), BLASTP, BLASTN, FASTA (Atschul, S. F. et al., J Molec Biol (1990) 215:403).

[0034] As an illustration, by a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence having at least, for example, 95% “identity” to a reference nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polynucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In other words, to obtain a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These mutations of the reference sequence may occur at the 5 or 3 terminal positions of the reference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

[0035] Similarly, by a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least, for example, 95% “identity” to a reference amino acid sequence of FIG. 3 is intended that the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the reference amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 1. In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a reference amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another amino acid, or a number of amino acids up to 5% of the total amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

[0036] Polypeptides of the Invention

[0037] In one aspect, the present invention relates to hSLNAC1 polypeptides. The hSLNAC1 polypeptides include the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2; as well as polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; and polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence which have at least 80% identity to that of SEQ ID NO:2 over its entire length, and still more preferably at least 90% identity, and even still more preferably at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO:2. Furthermore, those with at least 97-99% are highly preferred. Also included within hSLNAC1 polypeptides are polypeptides having the amino acid sequence which have at least 80% identity to the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 over its entire length, and still more preferably at least 90% identity, and even still more preferably at least 95% identity to SEQ ID NO:2. Furthermore, those with at least 97-99% are highly preferred. hSLNAC1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity, preferably at least 90% identity, and even still more preferably at least 95% to the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC 97987 are also included within the present invention. Preferably hSLNAC1 polypeptides exhibit at least one biological activity of the receptor.

[0038] The hSLNAC1 polypeptides may be in the form of the “mature” protein or may be a part of a larger protein such as a fusion protein. It is often advantageous to include an additional amino acid sequence which contains secretory or leader sequences, pro-sequences, sequences which aid in purification such as multiple histidine residues, or an additional sequence for stability during recombinant production.

[0039] Fragments of the hSLNAC1 polypeptides are also included in the invention. A fragment is a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that entirely is the same as part, but not all, of the amino acid sequence of the aforementioned hSLNAC1 polypeptides. As with hSLNAC1 polypeptides, fragments may be “free-standing,” or comprised within a larger polypeptide of which they form a part or region, most preferably as a single continuous region. Representative examples of polypeptide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragments from about amino acid number 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, and 101 to the end of hSLNAC1 polypeptide. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited ranges larger or smaller by several, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid at either extreme or at both extremes.

[0040] Preferred fragments include, for example, truncation polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of hSLNAC1 polypeptides, except for deletion of a continuous series of residues that includes the amino terminus, or a continuous series of residues that includes the carboxyl terminus or deletion of two continuous series of residues, one including the amino terminus and one including the carboxyl terminus. Also preferred are fragments characterized by structural or functional attributes such as fragments that comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions, beta-sheet and beta-sheet-forming regions, turn and turn-forming regions, coil and coil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alpha amphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions, surface-forming regions, substrate binding region, and high antigenic index regions. Other preferred fragments are biologically active fragments. Biologically active fragments are those that mediate receptor activity, including those with a similar activity or an improved activity, or with a decreased undesirable activity. Also included are those that are antigenic or immunogenic in an animal, especially in a human.

[0041] Preferably, all of these polypeptide fragments retain the biological activity of the receptor, including antigenic activity. Variants of the defined sequence and fragments also form part of the present invention. Preferred variants are those that vary from the referents by conservative amino acid substitutions i.e., those that substitute a residue with another of like characteristics. Typical such substitutions are among Ala, Val, Leu and lie; among Ser and Thr; among the acidic residues Asp and Glu; among Asn and Gln; and among the basic residues Lys and Arg; or aromatic residues Phe and Tyr. Particularly preferred are variants in which several, 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added in any combination.

[0042] The hSLNAC1 polypeptides of the invention can be prepared in any suitable manner. Such polypeptides include isolated naturally occurring polypeptides, recombinantly produced polypeptides, synthetically produced polypeptides, or polypeptides produced by a combination of these methods. Means for preparing such polypeptides are well understood in the art.

[0043] Polynucleotides of the Invention

[0044] Another aspect of the invention relates to hSLNAC1 polynucleotides. hSLNAC1 polynucleotides include isolated polynucleotides which encode the hSLNAC1 polypeptides and fragments, and polynucleotides closely related thereto. More specifically, hSLNAC1 polynucleotide of the invention include a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 encoding a hSLNAC1 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, and polynucleotide having the particular sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

[0045] hSLNAC1 polynucleotides further include a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the hSLNAC1 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 over its entire length, and a polynucleotide that is at least 80% identical to that having SEQ ID NO: 1 over its entire length. In this regard, polynucleotides at least 90% identical are particularly preferred, and those with at least 95% are especially preferred. Furthermore, those with at least 97% are highly preferred and those with at least 98-99% are most highly preferred, with at least 99% being the most preferred. Also included under hSLNAC1 polynucleotides are a nucleotide sequence which has sufficient identity to a nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:1 or contained in the cDNA insert in the plasmid deposited with the ATCC Deposit number 97987 (see herein-below) to hybridize under conditions useable for amplification or for use as a probe or marker.

[0046] Such a sequence may, for example, consists in the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 which constitutes another object of the present invention, as well as the its deduced polypeptide sequence SEQ ID NO : 4 and polynucleotides and polypeptide sequences having at least 80% identity, preferably 90% identity, more preferably 97% identity and still more preferably at least 99% identity to said sequence SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 The cDNA deposited at the ATCC with Deopsit Number 97987 is identical to SEQ ID NO: 3. SEQ ID NO: 3 may be used as probe for diagnostic.

[0047] So, according to the present invention hSLNAC1 polynucleotide include a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% identity to the cDNA insert deposited at the ATCC with Deposit Number 97987, and a nucleotide sequence comprising at least 15 contiguous nucleotides of such cDNA insert. The invention also provides polynucleotides which are complementary to all the above hSLNAC1 polynucleotides.

[0048] A deposit containing a hSLNAC1 CDNA has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Park Lawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852, USA, on Apr. 16, 1997, and assigned ATCC Deposit Number 97987. The deposited material (clone) is plasmid pcDNA3 which can be obtained from Invitrogen, Inc. containing that further contains the full length hSLNAC1 cDNA, referred to as p3SLNAC1 upon deposit. The cDNA insert is within Kpnl-Notl sites in the vector. The nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotides contained in the deposited material, as well as the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded thereby, are controlling in the event of any conflict with any description of sequences herein.

[0049] The deposit has been made under the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of micro-organisms for purposes of patent procedure.

[0050] hSLNAC1 of the invention is structurally related to other proteins of the sodium channel family, as shown by the results of sequencing the cDNA of SEQ ID NO:1. The cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 contains an open reading frame (nucleotide number 76 to 1629) encoding a polypeptide of 518 amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.

[0051] Amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 has about 52.1% identity and 71.8% similarity (using GCG gap algorythm) in 518 amino acid residues with ASIC Protein (gi/2039366) Waldmann R. et al, Nature, (1997) 386:173-177}. Nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 has about 60.7% identity (using GCG gap algorythm) in 1554 nucleotide residues with ASIC Protein (gi/2039365).

[0052] One polynucleotide of the present invention encoding hSLNAC1 may be obtained using standard cloning and screening, from a cDNA library derived from mRNA in cells of human cerebellum using the expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis (Adams, M. D., et al. Science (1991) 252:1651-1656; Adams, M. D. et al., Nature, (1992) 355:632-634; Adams, M. D., et al., Nature (1995)377 Supp:3-174). Polynucleotides of the invention can also be obtained from natural sources such as genomic DNA libraries or can be synthesized using well known and commercially available techniques.

[0053] The nucleotide sequence encoding hSLNAC1 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 may be identical to the polypeptide encoding sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:1 (nucleotide number 13 to 1641), or it may be a sequence, which as a result of the redundancy (degeneracy) of the genetic code, also encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2.

[0054] When the polynucleotides of the invention are used for the recombinant production of hSLNAC1 polypeptide, the polynucleotide may include the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide or a fragment thereof, by itself; the coding sequence for the mature polypeptide or fragment in reading frame with other coding sequences, such as those encoding a leader or secretory sequence, a pre-, or pro- or prepro-protein sequence, or other fusion peptide portions. For example, a marker sequence which facilitates purification of the fused polypeptide can be encoded. In certain preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the marker sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, as provided in the pQE vector (Qiagen, Inc.) and described in Gentz et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1989) 86:821-824, or is an HA tag. The polynucleotide may also contain non-coding 5′ and 3′ sequences, such as transcribed, non-translated sequences, splicing and polyadenylation signals, ribosome binding sites and sequences that stabilize mRNA.

[0055] Further preferred embodiments are polynucleotides encoding hSLNAC1 variants comprising the amino acid sequence of hSLNAC1 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 in which several, 5-10, 1-5, 1-3, 1-2 or 1 amino acid residues are substituted, deleted or added, in any combination.

[0056] The present invention further relates to polynucleotides that hybridize to the herein above-described sequences. In this regard, the present invention especially relates to polynucleotides which hybridize under stringent conditions to the herein above-described polynucleotides. As herein used, the term “stringent conditions” means hybridization will occur only if there is at least 95% and preferably at least 97% identity between the sequences.

[0057] Polynucleotides of the invention, which are identical or sufficiently identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof, or to the cDNA insert in the plasmid deposited at the ATCC with Deposit Number 97987 or a fragment thereof, may be used as hybridization probes for cDNA and genomic DNA, to isolate full-length cDNAs and genomic clones encoding hSLNAC1 and to isolate cDNA and genomic clones of other genes that have a high sequence similarity to the hSLNAC1 gene. Such hybridization techniques are known to those of skill in the art. Typically these nucleotide sequences are 80% identical, preferably 90% identical, more preferably 95% identical to that of the referent. The probes generally will comprise at least 15 nucleotides. Preferably, such probes will have at least 30 nucleotides and may have at least 50 nucleotides. Particularly preferred probes will range between 30 and 50 nucleotides.

[0058] In one embodiment, to obtain a polynucleotide encoding hSLNAC1 polypeptide comprises the steps of screening an appropriate library under stringent hybridization conditions with a labeled probe having the SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof; and isolating full-length cDNA and genomic clones containing said polynucleotide sequence. Such hybridization techniques are well known to those of skill in the art. Stringent hybridization conditions are as defined above or alternatively conditions under overnight incubation at 42° C. in a solution comprising: 50% formamide, 5× SSC (150 mM NaCl, 15 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH7.6), 5× Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 microgram/ml denatured, sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 0.1× SSC at about 65° C.

[0059] The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention may be employed as research reagents and materials for discovery of treatments and diagnostics to animal and human disease.

[0060] Vectors and Host Cells

[0061] The present invention also relates to vectors which include the isolated DNA molecules of the present invention, host cells which are genetically engineered with the recombinant vectors, and the production of hSLNAC1 polypeptides or fragments thereof by recombinant techniques.

[0062] The polynucleotides may be joined to a vector containing a selectable marker for propagation in a host. Generally, a plasmid vector is introduced in a precipitate, such as a calcium phosphate precipitate, or in a complex with a charged lipid. If the vector is a virus, it may be packaged in vitro using an appropriate packaging cell line and then transduced into host cells.

[0063] The DNA insert should be operatively linked to an appropriate promoter, such as the phage lambda PL promoter, the E. coli lac, trp and tac promoters, the SV40 early and late promoters and promoters of retroviral LTRs, to name a few. Other suitable promoters will be known to the skilled artisan. The expression constructs will further contain sites for transcription initiation, termination and, in the transcribed region, a ribosome binding site for translation. The coding portion of the mature transcripts expressed by the constructs will preferably include a translation initiating at the beginning and a termination codon (UAA, UGA or UAG) appropriately positioned at the end of the polypeptide to be translated.

[0064] As indicated, the expression vectors will preferably include at least one selectable marker. Such markers include dihydrofolate reductase, zeocin, hygromycin, or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture and tetracycline or ampicillin resistance genes for culturing in E. coli and other bacteria. Representative examples of appropriate heterologous hosts include, but are not limited to, bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Streptomyces and Salmonella typhimurium cells; fungal cells, such as yeast cells; insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS and Bowes melanoma cells; and plant cells. Appropriate culture mediums and conditions for the above-described host cells are known in the art.

[0065] Among vectors preferred for use in bacteria include pQE70, pQE60 and pQE-9, available from Qiagen; pBS vectors, Phagescript vectors, Bluescript vectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, available from Stratagene; and ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5 available from Pharmacia. Among preferred eukaryotic vectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available from Stratagene; and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia. Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

[0066] Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, infection or other methods. Such methods are described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., Basic Methods In Molecular Biology (1986).

[0067] The polypeptide may be expressed in a modified form, such as a fusion protein, and may include not only secretion signals, but also additional heterologous functional regions. For instance, a region of additional amino acids, particularly charged amino acids, may be added to the N-terminus of the polypeptide to improve stability and persistence in the host cell, during purification, or during subsequent handling and storage. Also, peptide moieties may be added to the polypeptide to facilitate purification. Such regions may be removed prior to final preparation of the polypeptide. The addition of peptide moieties to polypeptides to engender secretion or excretion, to improve stability and to facilitate purification, among others, are familiar and routine techniques in the art. A preferred fusion protein comprises a heterologous region from immunoglobulin that is useful to solubilize proteins. For example, EP-A-O 464 533 (Canadian counterpart 2045869) discloses fusion proteins comprising various portions of constant region of immunoglobulin molecules together with another human protein or part thereof. In many cases, the Fc part in a fusion protein is thoroughly advantageous for use in therapy and diagnosis and thus results, for example, in improved pharmacokinetic properties (EP-A 0232 262). On the other hand, for some uses it would be desirable to be able to delete the Fc part after the fusion protein has been expressed, detected and purified in the advantageous manner described. This is the case when Fc portion proves to be a hindrance to use in therapy and diagnosis, for example when the fusion protein is to be used as antigen for immunizations. In drug discovery, for example, human proteins, such as, hIL5- has been fused with Fc portions for the purpose of high-throughput screening assays to identify antagonists of hIL-5. See, D. Bennett et al., Journal of Molecular Recognition, Vol. 8:52-58 (1995) and K. Johanson et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 270, No. 16:9459-9471 (1995).

[0068] The hSLNAC1 receptor can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by well-known methods, including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) is employed for purification. Polypeptides of the present invention include naturally purified products, products of chemical synthetic procedures, and products produced by recombinant techniques from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host, including, for example, bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect and mammalian cells. Depending upon the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, the polypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated or may be non-glycosylated. In addition, polypeptides of the invention may also include an initial modified methionine residue, in some cases as a result of host-mediated processes.

[0069] Diagnostic Assays This invention also relates to the use of hSLNAC1 polynucleotides for use as diagnostic reagents. Detection of a mutated form of hSLNAC1 gene associated with a dysfunction will provide a diagnostic tool that can add to or define a diagnosis of a disease or susceptibility to a disease which results from under-expression, over-expression or altered expression of hSLNAC1. Individuals carrying mutations in the hSLNAC1 gene may be detected at the DNA level by a variety of techniques.

[0070] Nucleic acids for diagnosis may be obtained from a subject's cells, such as from blood, urine, saliva, tissue biopsy or autopsy material. The genomic DNA may be used directly for detection or may be amplified enzymatically by using PCR or other amplification techniques prior to analysis. RNA or cDNA may also be used in similar fashion. Deletions and insertions can be detected by a change in size of the amplified product in comparison to the normal genotype. Point mutations can be identified by hybridizing amplified DNA to labeled hSLNAC1 nucleotide sequences. Perfectly matched sequences can be distinguished from mismatched duplexes by RNase digestion or by differences in melting temperatures. DNA sequence differences may also be detected by alterations in electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments in gels, with or without denaturing agents, or by direct DNA sequencing. See, e.g., Myers et al. Science (1985) 230:1242. Sequence changes at specific locations may also be revealed by nuclease protection assays, such as RNase and SI protection or the chemical cleavage method. See Cotton et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1985) 85: 4397-4401. In another embodiment, an array of oligonucleotides probes comprising hSLNAC1 nucleotide sequence or fragments thereof can be constructed to conduct efficient screening of e.g., genetic mutations. Array technology methods are well known and have general applicability and can be used to address a variety of questions in molecular genetics including gene expression, genetic linkage, and genetic variability. (See for example: M.Chee et al., Science, Vol 274, pp 610-613 (1996)).

[0071] The diagnostic assays offer a process for diagnosing or determining a susceptibility to the treatment of diseases through detection of mutation in the hSLNAC1 gene by the methods described. Said diseases are, in particular, chosen among the following: neuronal degenerescence problems, hyperalgesia, Alzeihmer disease, Parkinson disease, chorea, muscular spasm, epilepsy, stroke, cardiac diseases, schizophrenia, depression, nicotine dependence, morphine dependence, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, inflammation, pain, cancer, obesity, to mimic or antagonize effect of some endogenous transmitter peptides in the central or peripheral nervous system (such as for instance opioïds or anti-opioïds), alteration of gustative perception, disorder related to abnormal expression of the hSLNAC1 protein.

[0072] In addition, the same diseases can be diagnosed by methods comprising determining from a sample derived from a subject an abnormally decreased or increased level of hSLNAC1 polypeptide or hSLNAC1 mRNA. Decreased or increased expression can be measured at the RNA level using any of the methods well known in the art for the quantitation of polynucleotides, such as, for example, PCR, RT-PCR, RNase protection, Northern blotting and other hybridization methods. Assay techniques that can be used to determine levels of a protein, such as an hSLNAC1, in a sample derived from a host are well-known to those of skill in the art. Such assay methods include radioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays, Western Blot analysis and ELISA assays.

[0073] Detection of hSLNAC1 Gene Expression

[0074] The expression level of the hSLNAC1 gene can be readily assayed by one of ordinary skill in the art. By “assaying the expression level of the gene encoding the hSLNAC1 polypeptide” is intended qualitatively or quantitatively measuring or estimating the level of the hSLNAC1 polypeptide or the level of the mRNA encoding the hSLNAC1 polypeptide in a biological sample (e.g., by determining or estimating absolute protein level or mRNA level).

[0075] By “biological sample” is intended any biological sample obtained from an individual, cell line, tissue culture, or other source which contains hSLNAC1 polypeptide or hSLNAC1 mRNA. Such tissues include cerebellum, brain, midbrain, spinal cord, nerve endings, retina, breast, pituitary, heart, placenta, lung, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas. Biological samples include mammalian tissues which contain hSLNAC1 polypeptide. Preferred mammals include monkeys, apes, cats, dogs, cows, pigs, horses, rabbits, and humans. Particularly preferred are humans.

[0076] Total cellular RNA can be isolated from a biological sample using the single-step guanidinium-thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method described in Chomczynski and Sacchi (Anal. Biochem. 162:156-159 (1987)). Levels of mRNA encoding the hSLNAC1 receptor are then assayed using any appropriate method. These include Northern blot analysis (Harada et al., Cell 63:303-312 (1990)), Sl nuclease mapping (Harada et al., Cell 63:303-312 (1990)), the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription in combination with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Fujita et al., Cell 49:35-36 (1990)), and reverse transcription in combination with the ligase chain reaction (RT-LCR).

[0077] As discussed here-above, assaying hSLNAC1 polypeptide levels in a biological sample can occur using antibody-based techniques. For example, hSLNAC1 polypeptide expression in tissues can be studied with classical immunohistological methods (Jalkanen, M. et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, M. et al., J. Cell. Biol. 105: 3087-3096 (1987)). Other antibody-based methods useful for detecting hSLNAC1 polypeptide gene expression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable labels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as glucose oxidase, and radioisotopes, such as iodine (¹²⁵I, ¹²¹I), carbon (¹⁴C), sulfur (³⁵S), tritium (³H), indium (¹¹²In), and technetium (^(99m)Tc), biotin and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine.

[0078] Chromosome Assays

[0079] The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention are also valuable for chromosome identification. The sequence is specifically targeted to and can hybridize with a particular location on an individual human chromosome. The mapping of DNAs to chromosomes according to the present invention is an important first step in correlating those sequences with genes associated with disease.

[0080] In certain preferred embodiments in this regard, the cDNA herein disclosed is used to clone genomic DNA of a hSLNAC1 polypeptide gene. This can be accomplished using a variety of well known techniques and libraries, which generally are available commercially. The genomic DNA then is used for in situ chromosome mapping using well known techniques for this purpose.

[0081] In addition, in some cases, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers (preferably 15-25 bp) from the cDNA. Computer analysis of the 3′ untranslated region of the gene is used to rapidly select primers that do not span more than one exon in the genomic DNA, thus complicating the amplification process. These primers are then used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (“FISH”) of a cDNA clone to a metaphase chromosomal spread can be used to provide a precise chromosomal location in one step. This technique can be used with probes from the cDNA as short as 50 or 60 bp. For a review of this technique, see Verma et al., Human Chromosomes: A Manual Of Basic Techniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

[0082] Once a sequence has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, the physical position of the sequence on the chromosome can be correlated with genetic map data. Such data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, Mendelian Inheritance In Man, available on-line through Johns Hopkins University, Welch Medical Library. The relationship between genes and diseases that have been mapped to the same chromosomal region are then identified through linkage analysis (coinheritance of physically adjacent genes).

[0083] Next, it is necessary to determine the differences in the cDNA or genomic sequence between affected and unaffected individuals. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the affected individuals but not in any normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the disease.

[0084] Having generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not intended as limiting.

[0085] Antibodies

[0086] The polypeptides of the invention or their fragments or analogs thereof, or cells expressing them can also be used as immunogens to produce antibodies immunospecific for the hSLNAC1 polypeptides. The term “immunospecific” means that the antibodies have substantial greater affinity for the polypeptides of the invention than their affinity for other related polypeptides in the prior art.

[0087] Antibodies generated against the hSLNAC1 polypeptides can be obtained by administering the polypeptides or epitope-bearing fragments, analogs or cells to an animal, preferably a nonhuman, using routine protocols. For preparation of monoclonal antibodies, any technique which provides antibodies produced by continuous cell line cultures can be used. Examples include the hybridoma technique (Kohler, G. and Milstein, C., Nature (1975) 256:495-497), the trioma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al., Immunology Today (1983) 4:72) and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al., MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND CANCER THERAPY, pp. 77-96, Alan R. Liss, Inc., 1985).

[0088] Techniques for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can also be adapted to produce single chain antibodies to polypeptides of this invention. Also, transgenic mice, or other organisms including other mammals, may be used to express humanized antibodies.

[0089] Non-limiting examples of polypeptides or peptides that can be used to generate hSLNAC1 polypeptide-specific antibodies include: a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 75 to about 81 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 96 to about 106 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 130 to about 137 of SEQ ID NO 2 ; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 215 to about 234 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 240 to about 250 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 287 to about 297 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 302 to about 310 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 341 to about 352 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 394 to about 405 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 419 to about 430 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 471 to about 489 of SEQ ID NO 2; a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 517 to about 525 of SEQ ID NO 2 and a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues from about 535 to about 545 of SEQ ID NO 2. As indicated above, the inventors have determined that the above polypeptide fragments are antigenic regions of the hSLNAC1 polypeptide.

[0090] The above-mentioned antibodies may be employed to isolate or to identify clones expressing the polypeptide or to purify the polypeptides by affinity chromatography.

[0091] Antibodies against hSLNAC1 polypeptides may also be employed to treat, among others, patients with nervous system disorders, to treat neuronal degenerescence problems, Alzeihmer disease, Parkinson disease, chorea, muscular spasm, epilepsy, stroke, cardiac diseases, schizophrenia, depression, nicotine dependence, morphine dependence, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammation, pain, multiple sclerosis, cancer, obesity, to mimic or antagonize effect of some endogenous transmitter peptides in the central or peripheral nervous system (such as for instance opiofds or anti-opioïds), to alter gustative perception, to cause analgesia or anesthesia, or to treat any disorder related to abnormal expression of said hSLNAC1 polypeptide.

[0092] Vaccines

[0093] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for inducing an immunological response in a mammal which comprises inoculating the mammal with hSLNAC1 polypeptide, or a fragment thereof, adequate to produce antibody and/or T cell immune response to protect said animal from, among others, nervous system disorders, neuronal degenerescence problems, Alzeihmer disease, Parkinson disease, chorea, muscular spasm, epilepsy, stroke, cardiac diseases, schizophrenia, depression, nicotine dependence, morphine dependence, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammation, pain, multiple sclerosis, cancer, obesity, to mimic or antagonize effect of some endogenous transmitter peptides in the central or peripheral nervous system (such as for instance opiofds or anti-opiolds), to cause analgesia or anesthesia, or to treat any disorder related to abnormal expression said hSLNAC1 polypeptide.

[0094] Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of inducing immunological response in a mammal which comprises, delivering hSLNAC1 polypeptide via a vector directing expression of hSLNAC1 polynucleotide in vivo in order to induce such an immunological response to produce antibody to protect said animal from diseases.

[0095] Further aspect of the invention relates to an immunological/vaccine formulation (composition) which, when introduced into a mammalian host, induces an immunological response in that mammal to a hSLNAC1 polypeptide wherein the composition comprises a hSLNAC1 polypeptide or hSLNAC1 gene. The vaccine formulation may further comprise a suitable carrier. Since hSLNAC1 polypeptide may be broken down in the stomach, it is preferably administered parenterally (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or intradermal injection). Formulations suitable for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents or thickening agents. The formulations may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampoules and vials and may be stored in a freeze-dried condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier immediately prior to use. The vaccine formulation may also include adjuvant systems for enhancing the immunogenicity of the formulation, such as oil-in water systems and other systems known in the art. The dosage will depend on the specific activity of the vaccine and can be readily determined by routine experimentation.

[0096] Screening Assays

[0097] The hSLNAC1 polypeptide of the present invention may be employed in a screening process for compounds which bind the receptor and which activate (agonists) or inhibit activation of (antagonists) the receptor polypeptide of the present invention. Thus, polypeptides of the invention may also be used to assess the binding of small molecule substrates and ligands in, for example, cells, cell-free preparations, chemical libraries, and natural product mixtures. These substrates and ligands may be natural substrates and ligands or may be structural or functional mimetics. See Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1 (2):Chapter 5 (1991).

[0098] hSLNAC1 polypeptides may be responsible for many biological functions, including many pathologies. Accordingly, it is desirous to find compounds and drugs which stimulate hSLNAC1 on the one hand and which can inhibit the function of hSLNAC1 on the other hand. In general, agonists are employed for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for such conditions as, among others, nervous system disorders, to treat neuronal degenerescence problems, Alzeihmer disease, Parkinson disease, chorea, muscular spasm, epilepsy, stroke, cardiac diseases, schizophrenia, depression, nicotine dependence, morphine dependence, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammation, pain, multiple sclerosis, cancer, obesity, to mimic or antagonize effect of some endogenous transmitter peptides in the central or peripheral nervous system (such as for instance opioïds or anti-opioïds), to alter gustative perception, to cause analgesia or anesthesia, or to treat any disorder related to abnormal expression of said hSLNAC1 polypeptide.

[0099] Antagonists may be employed for a variety of therapeutic and prophylactic purposes for such conditions as, among others, nervous system disorders, to treat neuronal degenerescence problems, Alzeihmer disease, Parkinson disease, chorea, muscular spasm, epilepsy, stroke, cardiac diseases, schizophrenia, depression, nicotine dependence, morphine dependence, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammation, pain, multiple sclerosis, cancer, obesity, to mimic or antagonize effect of some endogenous transmitter peptides in the central or peripheral nervous system (such as for instance opioïds or anti-opioïds), to alter gustative perception, to cause analgesia or anesthesia, or to treat any disorder related to abnormal expression of said hSLNAC1 polypeptide.

[0100] In general, such screening procedures involve producing appropriate cells which express the receptor polypeptide of the present invention on the surface thereof. Such cells include cells from mammals, yeast, Drosophila or E coli. Cells expressing the receptor (or cell membrane containing the expressed receptor) are then contacted with a test compound to observe binding, or stimulation or inhibition of a functional response.

[0101] The assays may simply test binding of a candidate compound wherein adherence to the cells bearing the receptor is detected by means of a label directly or indirectly associated with the candidate compound or in an assay involving competition with a labeled competitor. Further, these assays may test whether the candidate compound results in a signal generated by activation of the receptor, using detection systems appropriate to the cells bearing the receptor at their surfaces. Inhibitors of activation are generally assayed in the presence of a known agonist and the effect on activation by the agonist by the presence of the candidate compound is observed. Standard methods for conducting such screening assays are well understood in the art.

[0102] Alternatively, it is also possible to mutate the hSLNAC1 cDNA in order to produce a constitutively active sodium channel (Waldmann et al., J. Biol. Chem.271 pp 10433-10436; Huang and Chalfie, Nature 367, 467-470). The mutation may for instance consists in changing glycine 411 to phenylalanine. Then, the constitutively active sodium channel may be expressed in host cells to produce a screening assay where sodium channel activity is permanent. The recording of channel activity may be carried out either by membrane voltage analysis, directly (patch clamp for example) or indirectly (fluorescent probes for example), or by sodium entry measurement (radioactive sodium influx, fluorescent probes or reporter genes for example).

[0103] Examples of potential hSLNAC1 antagonists include antibodies or, in some cases, oligonucleotides or proteins which are closely related to the ligand of the hSLNAC1, e.g., a fragment of the ligand, or small molecules which bind to the receptor but do not elicit a response, so that the activity of the receptor is prevented.

[0104] Prophylactic and Therapeutic Methods

[0105] This invention provides methods of treating an abnormal conditions related to both an excess of and insufficient amounts of hSLNAC1 activity.

[0106] If the activity of hSLNAC1 is in excess, several approaches are available. One approach comprises administering to a subject an inhibitor compound (antagonist) as hereinabove described along with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in an amount effective to inhibit activation by blocking binding of ligands to the hSLNAC1, or by inhibiting a second signal, and thereby alleviating the abnormal condition.

[0107] In another approach, soluble forms of hSLNAC1 polypeptides still capable of binding the ligand in competition with endogenous hSLNAC1 may be administered. Typical embodiments of such competitors comprise fragments of the hSLNAC1 polypeptide.

[0108] In still another approach, expression of the gene encoding endogenous hSLNAC1 can be inhibited using expression blocking techniques. Known such techniques involve the use of antisense sequences, either internally generated or separately administered. See, for example, O'Connor, J Neurochem (1991) 56:560 in Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Alternatively, oligonucleotides which form triple helices with the gene can be supplied. See, for example, Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Res (1979) 6:3073; Cooney et al., Science (1988) 241:456; Dervan et al., Science (1991) 251:1360. These oligomers can be administered per se or the relevant oligomers can be expressed in vivo.

[0109] For treating abnormal conditions related to an under-expression of hSLNAC1 and its activity, several approaches are also available. One approach comprises administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which activates hSLNAC1, i.e., an agonist as described above, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to thereby alleviate the abnormal condition. Alternatively, gene therapy may be employed to effect the endogenous production of hSLNAC1 by the relevant cells in the subject. For example, a polynucleotide of the invention may be engineered for expression in a replication defective retroviral vector, as discussed above. The retroviral expression construct may then be isolated and introduced into a packaging cell transduced with a retroviral plasmid vector containing RNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention such that the packaging cell now produces infectious viral particles containing the gene of interest. These producer cells may be administered to a subject for engineering cells in vivo and expression of the polypeptide in vivo. For overview of gene therapy, see Chapter 20, Gene Therapy and other Molecular Genetic-based Therapeutic Approaches, (and references cited therein) in Human Molecular Genetics, T Strachan and A P Read, BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd (1996).

[0110] Formulation and Administration

[0111] Peptides, such as the soluble form of hSLNAC1 polypeptides, and agonists and antagonist peptides or small molecules, may be formulated in combination with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. Such formulations comprise a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide or compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Such carriers include but are not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, water, glycerol, ethanol, and combinations thereof. Formulation should suit the mode of administration, and is well within the skill of the art. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical packs and kits comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the aforementioned compositions of the invention.

[0112] Polypeptides and other compounds of the present invention may be employed alone or in conjunction with other compounds, such as therapeutic compounds.

[0113] Preferred forms of systemic administration of the pharmaceutical compositions include injection, typically by intravenous injection. Other injection routes, such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal, can be used. Alternative means for systemic administration include transmucosal and transdermal administration using penetrants such as bile salts or fusidic acids or other detergents. In addition, if properly formulated in enteric or encapsulated formulations, oral administration may also be possible. Administration of these compounds may also be topical and/or localized, in the form of salves, pastes, gels and the like.

[0114] The dosage range required depends on the choice of peptide, the route of administration, the nature of the formulation, the nature of the subject's condition, and the judgment of the attending practitioner. Suitable dosages, however, are in the range of 0.1-100 pg/kg of subject. Wide variations in the needed dosage, however, are to be expected in view of the variety of compounds available and the differing efficiencies of various routes of administration. For example, oral administration would be expected to require higher dosages than administration by intravenous injection. Variations in these dosage levels can be adjusted using standard empirical routines for optimization, as is well understood in the art.

[0115] Polypeptides used in treatment can also be generated endogenously in the subject, in treatment modalities often referred to as “gene therapy” as described above. Thus, for example, cells from a subject may be engineered with a polynucleotide, such as a DNA or RNA, to encode a polypeptide ex vivo, and for example, by the use of a retroviral plasmid vector. The cells are then introduced into the subject.

[0116] Splice Variants

[0117] To ascertain the existence of splice variants of SEQ ID NO: 1 and 3, in some tissues of interest, Polymerase Chain Reactions were performed with oligonucleotides whose sequences were deduced from SEQ ID NO :1. These nucleotides are: GGCGGCCGCTCTAGAACTAG; GCTGCTGGCAAGAAACAAAG; ATTTAAGTCTGGCGCTGGATGG; GTCTAGGATCTCGAGGATGG; ATGCTTCGCAAGGACTCGTG; GAAAAGCTACGTGCAGGCTAG.

[0118] The last pair of oligonucleotides allowed the amplification from dorsal root ganglia of a sequence differing in 79 nucleotides. These 79 nucleotides are inserted in the 3′ part of the coding sequence and allowed the generation of SEQ ID NO: 5. Due to the reading frame change introduced by this insertion, the deduced protein sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 differs from SEQ ID NO : 4 in its C-terminal. As dorsal root ganglia are involved in painful perception, SEQ ID NO : 5 can be expected to encode a protein whose function is linked to algesia or analgesia.

[0119] So according to another aspect, the invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80%, preferably 90%, more preferably 97%, and still more preferably more than 99% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO : 6 over its entire length; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence. According to still another aspect, the invention also relates to polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80%, preferably 90%, more preferably 97%, and still more preferably more than 99%, identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 over its entire length.

EXAMPLES

[0120] The examples below are carried out using standard techniques, which are well known and routine to those of skill in the art, except where otherwise described in detail. The examples illustrate, but do not limit the invention.

Example 1 Cloning the Human Sodium Channel

[0121] The sequence of the hSLNAC1 was first identified by searching a database containing approximately 1 million human ESTs, which was generated using high throughput automated DNA sequence analysis of randomly selected human cDNA clones (Adams, M. D. et al., Nature 377:3-174 (1995); Adams, M. D. et al., Nature 355:632-634 (1992); and Adams, M. D. et al., Science 252:1651-1656 (1991)). Sequence homology comparisons of each EST were performed against the GenBank database using the blastn and tblastn algorithms (Altschul, S. F. et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990)). A specific homology search using the known human MDEG amino acid sequence against this human EST database revealed one EST (HGS826465), from a cerebellum cDNA library, with approximatively 50% similarity to MDEG. HGS826465 contains 1710 bp and the sequence comparison suggested that it contained the complete open reading frame of a new protein. Sequence of the gene was confirmed by double strand DNA sequencing using the TaqFs (Perkin Elmer) and the gene was shown to be completely new by a blast search against Genbank release 98. An expression vector construct was made by inserting the Kpnl-NotI fragment carrying the entire hSLNAC1 coding region into the KpnI-NotI site of the expression vector pcDNA3(−) (Invitrogen, Inc). This construct was named p3SLNAC1.

Example 2 Cloning and Expression of hSLNAC1 in Mammalian Cells

[0122] A typical mammalian expression vector contains the promoter element, which mediates the initiation of transcription of mRNA, the protein coding sequence, and signals required for the termination of transcription and polyadenylation of the transcript. Additional elements include enhancers, Kozak sequences and intervening sequences flanked by donor and acceptor sites for RNA splicing. Highly efficient transcription can be achieved with the early and late promoters from SV40, the long terminal repeats (LTRS) from Retroviruses, e.g., RSV, HTLVI, HIVI and the early promoter of the cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, cellular elements can also be used (e.g., the human actin promoter). Suitable expression vectors for use in practicing the present invention include, for example, vectors such as PSVL and PMSG (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), pRSVcat (ATCC 37152), pSV2dhfr (ATCC 37146) and pBC12MI (ATCC 67109) and pcDNA3(−) (Invitrogen). Mammalian host cells that could be used include, human Hela 293, H9 and Jurkat cells, mouse NIH3T3 and C127 cells, Cos 1, Cos 7 and CV 1, quail QC1-3 cells, mouse L cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

[0123] Alternatively, the gene can be expressed in stable cell lines that contain the gene integrated into a chromosome. The co-transfection with a selectable marker such as dhfr, gpt, neomycin, zeocin or hygromycin allows the identification and isolation of the transfected cells.

[0124] The transfected gene can also be amplified to express large amounts of the encoded protein. The DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) marker is useful to develop cell lines that carry several hundred or even several thousand copies of the gene of interest. Another useful selection marker is the enzyme glutamine synthase (GS) (Murphy et al., Biochem. J. 227:277-279 (1991); Bebbington et al, Bio/Technology 10:169-175 (1992)). Using these markers, the mammalian cells are grown in selective medium and the cells with the highest resistance are selected. These cell lines contain the amplified gene(s) integrated into a chromosome. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and NSO cells are often used for the production of proteins.

[0125] The expression vector pcDNA3(−) contains the strong promoter (CMV) of the Cytomegalovirus. Multiple cloning sites, e.g., with the restriction enzyme cleavage sites KpnI, NotI, facilitate the cloning of the gene of interest. The vectors contain in addition the 3′ intron, the polyadenylation and termination signal of the bovine growth hormone gene.

Example 2(a) Cloning and Expression in COS Cells

[0126] The expression plasmid, p3SLNAC1, is made by cloning a cDNA encoding hSLNAC1 into the expression vector pcDNA3(−) (which can be obtained from Invitrogen, Inc.). The expression vector pcDNA3(−) contains: (1) an E. coli origin of replication effective for propagation in E. coli and other prokaryotic cells; (2) an ampicillin resistance gene for selection of plasmid-containing prokaryotic cells; (3) an SV40 origin of replication for propagation in eukaryotic cells; (4) a CMV promoter, a polylinker; (5) a polyadenylation from the bovine growth hormone gene arranged so that a cDNA can be conveniently placed under expression control of the CMV promoter and operably linked to the polyadenylation signal by means of restriction sites in the polylinker. pcDNA3(−) contains, in addition, the selectable neomycin marker.

[0127] A DNA fragment encoding the hSLNAC1 polypeptide is cloned into the polylinker region of the vector so that recombinant protein expression is directed by the CMV promoter. The plasmid construction strategy is as follows. The hSLNAC1 cDNA of the deposited clone is in the bluescript vector (Stratagene), it is excised from the bluescript vector with KpnI and Not I. The vector, pcDNA3(−), is digested with Kpnl and Not I. The PCR amplified DNA fragment and the linearized vector are then ligated. The ligation mixture is transformed into E. coli strain DH5 ox (available from GIBCO BRL), and the transformed culture is plated on ampicillin media plates which then are incubated to allow growth of ampicillin resistant colonies. Plasmid DNA is isolated from resistant colonies and examined by restriction analysis or other means for the presence of the hSLNAC1-encoding fragment.

[0128] For expression of recombinant hSLNAC1 polypeptide, COS cells are transfected with an expression vector, as described above, using DEAE-Dextran, as described, for instance, in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989). Cells are incubated under conditions for expression of hSLNAC1 by the vector.

Example 2(b) Cloning and Expression in HEK293 Cells

[0129] The vector p3SLNAC1 is used for the expression of hSLNAC1 protein. Plasmid p3SLNAC1 is described in example 1. The plasmid contains the mouse neomycin resistance gene under control of the SV40 early promoter. HEK293 Cells are transfected with these plasmids and can be selected by growing the cells in a selective medium (containing 1 mg/ml Geneticin, Life Technologies). Cells grown in presence of 1 mg/ml concentrations of Geneticin develop resistance to the drug by producing the target enzyme, Neomycin Resistance. If a second gene is linked to the Neomycin Resistance gene, it is usually co-expressed. It is known in the art that this approach may be used to develop cell lines expressing large amounts of the protein of interest, up to 1 pmole per mg of cell membrane in the case of a receptor. Subsequently, when the Geneticin is withdrawn, cell lines are obtained which contain the amplified gene integrated into one or more chromosome(s) of the host cell.

[0130] Clontech's Tet-Off and Tet-On gene expression systems and similar systems can be used to express hSLNAC1 in a regulated way in mammalian cells (Gossen, M. and Bujard, H., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 5547-5551(1992)). For the polyadenylation of the mRNA other signals, e.g., from the human growth hormone or globin genes can be used as well. Stable cell lines carrying a gene of interest integrated into the chromosomes can also be selected upon co-transfection with a selectable marker such as gpt, G418 or hygromycin.

[0131] HEK293 cells are used for transfection. 20 μg of the expression plasmid p3SLNAC1 is transfected using calcium phosphate (Chen C, Okayama H, (1987) Mol. Cell. Biol.; 7: 2745-2752.). The plasmid pcDNA3(-) contains a dominant selectable marker, the neomycin resistance gene from Tn5 encoding an enzyme that confers resistance to a group of antibiotics including Geneticin. The cells are seeded in MEM supplemented with 1 mg/ml Geneticin. After 2 days, the cells are trypsinized and seeded in cloning plates in MEM supplemented with 1 mg/ml Geneticin. After about 10-14 days, single clones are trypsinized and then seeded in 6-well petri dishes or 10 ml flasks. Clones growing are then transferred to new 6-well plates. Expression of the desired gene product is analyzed, for instance, by Northern blot.

Example 3 Tissue Distribution of hSLNAC1 mRNA Expression

[0132] Northern blot analysis can be carried out to examine hSLNAC1 gene expression in human tissues, using methods described by, among others, Sambrook et al., cited above. A cDNA probe containing the entire nucleotide sequence of the hSLNAC1 protein (SEQ ID NO: 1) can be labeled with ³²P using the Rediprime™ DNA labeling system (Amersham Life Science, Arlington, Ill.), according to manufacturer's instructions. After labeling, the probe can be purified using a CHROMA SPIN-100™ column (Clontech Laboratories, Inc.), according to manufacturer's protocol number PT1200-1. The purified labeled probe was then used to examine various human tissues for hSLNAC1 mRNA.

[0133] Multiple Tissue Northern (MTN) blots containing various human tissues can be obtained from Clontech and examined with the labeled probe using ExpressHyb™ hybridization solution (Clontech) according to manufacturer's protocol number PT1190-1. Following hybridization and washing, the blots can be mounted and exposed to film at −70° C. overnight, and films developed according to standard procedures.

[0134] It will be clear that the invention may be practised otherwise than as particularly described in the foregoing description and examples.

[0135] Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, are within the scope of the appended claims. The entire disclosure of all publications (including patents, patent applications, journal articles, laboratory manuals, books, or other documents) cited herein are incorporated by reference.

1 19 1 1723 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (13)..(1641) 1 gcggttctgg cc atg aag ccc acc tca ggc cca gag gag gcc cgg cgg cca 51 Met Lys Pro Thr Ser Gly Pro Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg Pro 1 5 10 gcc tcg gac atc cgc gtg ttc gcc agc aac tgc tcg atg cac ggg ctg 99 Ala Ser Asp Ile Arg Val Phe Ala Ser Asn Cys Ser Met His Gly Leu 15 20 25 ggc cac gtc ttc ggg cca ggc agc ctg agc ctg cgc cgg ggg atg tgg 147 Gly His Val Phe Gly Pro Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Arg Arg Gly Met Trp 30 35 40 45 gca gcg gcc gtg gtc ctg tca gtg gcc acc ttc ctc tac cag gtg gct 195 Ala Ala Ala Val Val Leu Ser Val Ala Thr Phe Leu Tyr Gln Val Ala 50 55 60 gag agg gtg cgc tac tac agg gag ttc cac cac cag act gcc ctg gat 243 Glu Arg Val Arg Tyr Tyr Arg Glu Phe His His Gln Thr Ala Leu Asp 65 70 75 gag cga gaa agc cac cgg ctc atc ttc ccg gct gtc acc ctg tgc aac 291 Glu Arg Glu Ser His Arg Leu Ile Phe Pro Ala Val Thr Leu Cys Asn 80 85 90 atc aac cca ctg cgc cgc tcg cgc cta acg ccc aac gac ctg cac tgg 339 Ile Asn Pro Leu Arg Arg Ser Arg Leu Thr Pro Asn Asp Leu His Trp 95 100 105 gct ggg tct gcg ctg ctg ggc ctg gat ccc gca gag cac gcc gcc ttc 387 Ala Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Asp Pro Ala Glu His Ala Ala Phe 110 115 120 125 ctg cgc gcc ctg ggc cgg ccc cct gca ccg ccc ggc ttc atg ccc agt 435 Leu Arg Ala Leu Gly Arg Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Phe Met Pro Ser 130 135 140 ccc acc ttt gac atg gcg caa ctc tat gcc cgt gct ggg cac tcc ctg 483 Pro Thr Phe Asp Met Ala Gln Leu Tyr Ala Arg Ala Gly His Ser Leu 145 150 155 gat gac atg ctg ctg gac tgt cgc ttc cgt ggc caa cct tgt ggg cct 531 Asp Asp Met Leu Leu Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg Gly Gln Pro Cys Gly Pro 160 165 170 gag aac ttc acc acg atc ttc acc cgg atg gga aag tgc tac aca ttt 579 Glu Asn Phe Thr Thr Ile Phe Thr Arg Met Gly Lys Cys Tyr Thr Phe 175 180 185 aac tct ggc gct gat ggg gca gag ctg ctc acc act act agg ggt ggc 627 Asn Ser Gly Ala Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Leu Thr Thr Thr Arg Gly Gly 190 195 200 205 atg ggc aat ggg ctg gac atc atg ctg gac gtg cag cag gag gaa tat 675 Met Gly Asn Gly Leu Asp Ile Met Leu Asp Val Gln Gln Glu Glu Tyr 210 215 220 cta cct gtg tgg agg gac aat gag gag acc ccg ttt gag gtg ggg atc 723 Leu Pro Val Trp Arg Asp Asn Glu Glu Thr Pro Phe Glu Val Gly Ile 225 230 235 cga gtg cag atc cac agc cag gag gag ccg ccc atc atc gat cag ctg 771 Arg Val Gln Ile His Ser Gln Glu Glu Pro Pro Ile Ile Asp Gln Leu 240 245 250 ggc ttg ggg gtg tcc ccg ggc tac cag acc ttt gtt tct tgc cag cag 819 Gly Leu Gly Val Ser Pro Gly Tyr Gln Thr Phe Val Ser Cys Gln Gln 255 260 265 cag cag ctg agc ttc ctg cca ccg ccc tgg ggc gat tgc agt tca gca 867 Gln Gln Leu Ser Phe Leu Pro Pro Pro Trp Gly Asp Cys Ser Ser Ala 270 275 280 285 tct ctg aac ccc aac tat gag cca gag ccc tct gat ccc cta ggc tcc 915 Ser Leu Asn Pro Asn Tyr Glu Pro Glu Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Gly Ser 290 295 300 ccc agc ccc agc ccc agc cct ccc tat acc ctt atg ggg tgt cgc ctg 963 Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro Tyr Thr Leu Met Gly Cys Arg Leu 305 310 315 gcc tgc gaa acc cgc tac gtg gct cgg aag tgc ggc tgc cga atg gtg 1011 Ala Cys Glu Thr Arg Tyr Val Ala Arg Lys Cys Gly Cys Arg Met Val 320 325 330 tac atg cca ggc gac gtg cca gtg tgc agc ccc cag cag tac aag aac 1059 Tyr Met Pro Gly Asp Val Pro Val Cys Ser Pro Gln Gln Tyr Lys Asn 335 340 345 tgt gcc cac ccg gcc ata gat gcc atg ctt cgc aag gac tcg tgc gcc 1107 Cys Ala His Pro Ala Ile Asp Ala Met Leu Arg Lys Asp Ser Cys Ala 350 355 360 365 tgc ccc aac ccg tgc gcc agc acg cgc tac gcc aag gag ctc tcc atg 1155 Cys Pro Asn Pro Cys Ala Ser Thr Arg Tyr Ala Lys Glu Leu Ser Met 370 375 380 gtg cgg atc ccg agc cgc gcc gcc gcg cgc ttc ctg gcc cgg aag ctc 1203 Val Arg Ile Pro Ser Arg Ala Ala Ala Arg Phe Leu Ala Arg Lys Leu 385 390 395 aac cgc agc gag gcc tac atc gcg gag aac gtg ctg gcc ctg gac atc 1251 Asn Arg Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ile Ala Glu Asn Val Leu Ala Leu Asp Ile 400 405 410 ttc ttt gag gcc ctc aac tat gag acc gtg gag cag aag aag gcc tat 1299 Phe Phe Glu Ala Leu Asn Tyr Glu Thr Val Glu Gln Lys Lys Ala Tyr 415 420 425 gag atg tca gag ctg ctt ggt gac att ggg ggc cag atg ggg ctg ttc 1347 Glu Met Ser Glu Leu Leu Gly Asp Ile Gly Gly Gln Met Gly Leu Phe 430 435 440 445 atc ggg gcc agc ctg ctc acc atc ctc gag atc cta gac tac ctc tgt 1395 Ile Gly Ala Ser Leu Leu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ile Leu Asp Tyr Leu Cys 450 455 460 gag gtg ttc cga gac aag gtc ctg gga tat ttc tgg aac cga cag cac 1443 Glu Val Phe Arg Asp Lys Val Leu Gly Tyr Phe Trp Asn Arg Gln His 465 470 475 tcc caa agg cac tcc agc acc aat ctg acc tcc cac ccc tcc ctg tgc 1491 Ser Gln Arg His Ser Ser Thr Asn Leu Thr Ser His Pro Ser Leu Cys 480 485 490 cgt cac caa gac tct ctc cgc ctc cca ccg cac ctg cta cct tgt cac 1539 Arg His Gln Asp Ser Leu Arg Leu Pro Pro His Leu Leu Pro Cys His 495 500 505 aca gct cta gac ctg ctg tct gtg tcc tcg gag ccc cgc cct gac atc 1587 Thr Ala Leu Asp Leu Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Glu Pro Arg Pro Asp Ile 510 515 520 525 ctg gac atg cct agc ctg cac gta gct ttt ccg tct tca ccc caa ata 1635 Leu Asp Met Pro Ser Leu His Val Ala Phe Pro Ser Ser Pro Gln Ile 530 535 540 aag tcc taatgcatca aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa ctcgaggggg ggcccggtac 1691 Lys Ser ccaattcgcc ctatagtgag tcgtattaca at 1723 2 543 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Lys Pro Thr Ser Gly Pro Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg Pro Ala Ser Asp 1 5 10 15 Ile Arg Val Phe Ala Ser Asn Cys Ser Met His Gly Leu Gly His Val 20 25 30 Phe Gly Pro Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Arg Arg Gly Met Trp Ala Ala Ala 35 40 45 Val Val Leu Ser Val Ala Thr Phe Leu Tyr Gln Val Ala Glu Arg Val 50 55 60 Arg Tyr Tyr Arg Glu Phe His His Gln Thr Ala Leu Asp Glu Arg Glu 65 70 75 80 Ser His Arg Leu Ile Phe Pro Ala Val Thr Leu Cys Asn Ile Asn Pro 85 90 95 Leu Arg Arg Ser Arg Leu Thr Pro Asn Asp Leu His Trp Ala Gly Ser 100 105 110 Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Asp Pro Ala Glu His Ala Ala Phe Leu Arg Ala 115 120 125 Leu Gly Arg Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Phe Met Pro Ser Pro Thr Phe 130 135 140 Asp Met Ala Gln Leu Tyr Ala Arg Ala Gly His Ser Leu Asp Asp Met 145 150 155 160 Leu Leu Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg Gly Gln Pro Cys Gly Pro Glu Asn Phe 165 170 175 Thr Thr Ile Phe Thr Arg Met Gly Lys Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Ser Gly 180 185 190 Ala Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Leu Thr Thr Thr Arg Gly Gly Met Gly Asn 195 200 205 Gly Leu Asp Ile Met Leu Asp Val Gln Gln Glu Glu Tyr Leu Pro Val 210 215 220 Trp Arg Asp Asn Glu Glu Thr Pro Phe Glu Val Gly Ile Arg Val Gln 225 230 235 240 Ile His Ser Gln Glu Glu Pro Pro Ile Ile Asp Gln Leu Gly Leu Gly 245 250 255 Val Ser Pro Gly Tyr Gln Thr Phe Val Ser Cys Gln Gln Gln Gln Leu 260 265 270 Ser Phe Leu Pro Pro Pro Trp Gly Asp Cys Ser Ser Ala Ser Leu Asn 275 280 285 Pro Asn Tyr Glu Pro Glu Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro 290 295 300 Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro Tyr Thr Leu Met Gly Cys Arg Leu Ala Cys Glu 305 310 315 320 Thr Arg Tyr Val Ala Arg Lys Cys Gly Cys Arg Met Val Tyr Met Pro 325 330 335 Gly Asp Val Pro Val Cys Ser Pro Gln Gln Tyr Lys Asn Cys Ala His 340 345 350 Pro Ala Ile Asp Ala Met Leu Arg Lys Asp Ser Cys Ala Cys Pro Asn 355 360 365 Pro Cys Ala Ser Thr Arg Tyr Ala Lys Glu Leu Ser Met Val Arg Ile 370 375 380 Pro Ser Arg Ala Ala Ala Arg Phe Leu Ala Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Ser 385 390 395 400 Glu Ala Tyr Ile Ala Glu Asn Val Leu Ala Leu Asp Ile Phe Phe Glu 405 410 415 Ala Leu Asn Tyr Glu Thr Val Glu Gln Lys Lys Ala Tyr Glu Met Ser 420 425 430 Glu Leu Leu Gly Asp Ile Gly Gly Gln Met Gly Leu Phe Ile Gly Ala 435 440 445 Ser Leu Leu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ile Leu Asp Tyr Leu Cys Glu Val Phe 450 455 460 Arg Asp Lys Val Leu Gly Tyr Phe Trp Asn Arg Gln His Ser Gln Arg 465 470 475 480 His Ser Ser Thr Asn Leu Thr Ser His Pro Ser Leu Cys Arg His Gln 485 490 495 Asp Ser Leu Arg Leu Pro Pro His Leu Leu Pro Cys His Thr Ala Leu 500 505 510 Asp Leu Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Glu Pro Arg Pro Asp Ile Leu Asp Met 515 520 525 Pro Ser Leu His Val Ala Phe Pro Ser Ser Pro Gln Ile Lys Ser 530 535 540 3 1711 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (76)..(1629) 3 ctggagctcc accgcggtgg cggccgctct agaactagtg gatcccccgg gctgcaggaa 60 ttcggcacga gctcg atg cac ggg ctg ggc cac gtc ttc ggg cca ggc agc 111 Met His Gly Leu Gly His Val Phe Gly Pro Gly Ser 1 5 10 ctg agc ctg cgc cgg ggg atg tgg gca gcg gcc gtg gtc ctg tca gtg 159 Leu Ser Leu Arg Arg Gly Met Trp Ala Ala Ala Val Val Leu Ser Val 15 20 25 gcc acc ttc ctc tac cag gtg gct gag agg gtg cgc tac tac agg gag 207 Ala Thr Phe Leu Tyr Gln Val Ala Glu Arg Val Arg Tyr Tyr Arg Glu 30 35 40 ttc cac cac cag act gcc ctg gat gag cga gaa agc cac cgg ctc atc 255 Phe His His Gln Thr Ala Leu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ser His Arg Leu Ile 45 50 55 60 ttc ccg gct gtc acc ctg tgc aac atc aac cca ctg cgc cgc tcg cgc 303 Phe Pro Ala Val Thr Leu Cys Asn Ile Asn Pro Leu Arg Arg Ser Arg 65 70 75 cta acg ccc aac gac ctg cac tgg gct ggg tct gcg ctg ctg ggc ctg 351 Leu Thr Pro Asn Asp Leu His Trp Ala Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu 80 85 90 gat ccc gca gag cac gcc gcc ttc ctg cgc gcc ctg ggc cgg ccc cct 399 Asp Pro Ala Glu His Ala Ala Phe Leu Arg Ala Leu Gly Arg Pro Pro 95 100 105 gca ccg ccc ggc ttc atg ccc agt ccc acc ttt gac atg gcg caa ctc 447 Ala Pro Pro Gly Phe Met Pro Ser Pro Thr Phe Asp Met Ala Gln Leu 110 115 120 tat gcc cgt gct ggg cac tcc ctg gat gac atg ctg ctg gac tgt cgc 495 Tyr Ala Arg Ala Gly His Ser Leu Asp Asp Met Leu Leu Asp Cys Arg 125 130 135 140 ttc cgt ggc caa cct tgt ggg cct gag aac ttc acc acg atc ttc acc 543 Phe Arg Gly Gln Pro Cys Gly Pro Glu Asn Phe Thr Thr Ile Phe Thr 145 150 155 cgg atg gga aag tgc tac aca ttt aac tct ggc gct gat ggg gca gag 591 Arg Met Gly Lys Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Ser Gly Ala Asp Gly Ala Glu 160 165 170 ctg ctc acc act act agg ggt ggc atg ggc aat ggg ctg gac atc atg 639 Leu Leu Thr Thr Thr Arg Gly Gly Met Gly Asn Gly Leu Asp Ile Met 175 180 185 ctg gac gtg cag cag gag gaa tat cta cct gtg tgg agg gac aat gag 687 Leu Asp Val Gln Gln Glu Glu Tyr Leu Pro Val Trp Arg Asp Asn Glu 190 195 200 gag acc ccg ttt gag gtg ggg atc cga gtg cag atc cac agc cag gag 735 Glu Thr Pro Phe Glu Val Gly Ile Arg Val Gln Ile His Ser Gln Glu 205 210 215 220 gag ccg ccc atc atc gat cag ctg ggc ttg ggg gtg tcc ccg ggc tac 783 Glu Pro Pro Ile Ile Asp Gln Leu Gly Leu Gly Val Ser Pro Gly Tyr 225 230 235 cag acc ttt gtt tct tgc cag cag cag cag ctg agc ttc ctg cca ccg 831 Gln Thr Phe Val Ser Cys Gln Gln Gln Gln Leu Ser Phe Leu Pro Pro 240 245 250 ccc tgg ggc gat tgc agt tca gca tct ctg aac ccc aac tat gag cca 879 Pro Trp Gly Asp Cys Ser Ser Ala Ser Leu Asn Pro Asn Tyr Glu Pro 255 260 265 gag ccc tct gat ccc cta ggc tcc ccc agc ccc agc ccc agc cct ccc 927 Glu Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro 270 275 280 tat acc ctt atg ggg tgt cgc ctg gcc tgc gaa acc cgc tac gtg gct 975 Tyr Thr Leu Met Gly Cys Arg Leu Ala Cys Glu Thr Arg Tyr Val Ala 285 290 295 300 cgg aag tgc ggc tgc cga atg gtg tac atg cca ggc gac gtg cca gtg 1023 Arg Lys Cys Gly Cys Arg Met Val Tyr Met Pro Gly Asp Val Pro Val 305 310 315 tgc agc ccc cag cag tac aag aac tgt gcc cac ccg gcc ata gat gcc 1071 Cys Ser Pro Gln Gln Tyr Lys Asn Cys Ala His Pro Ala Ile Asp Ala 320 325 330 atg ctt cgc aag gac tcg tgc gcc tgc ccc aac ccg tgc gcc agc acg 1119 Met Leu Arg Lys Asp Ser Cys Ala Cys Pro Asn Pro Cys Ala Ser Thr 335 340 345 cgc tac gcc aag gag ctc tcc atg gtg cgg atc ccg agc cgc gcc gcc 1167 Arg Tyr Ala Lys Glu Leu Ser Met Val Arg Ile Pro Ser Arg Ala Ala 350 355 360 gcg cgc ttc ctg gcc cgg aag ctc aac cgc agc gag gcc tac atc gcg 1215 Ala Arg Phe Leu Ala Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ile Ala 365 370 375 380 gag aac gtg ctg gcc ctg gac atc ttc ttt gag gcc ctc aac tat gag 1263 Glu Asn Val Leu Ala Leu Asp Ile Phe Phe Glu Ala Leu Asn Tyr Glu 385 390 395 acc gtg gag cag aag aag gcc tat gag atg tca gag ctg ctt ggt gac 1311 Thr Val Glu Gln Lys Lys Ala Tyr Glu Met Ser Glu Leu Leu Gly Asp 400 405 410 att ggg ggc cag atg ggg ctg ttc atc ggg gcc agc ctg ctc acc atc 1359 Ile Gly Gly Gln Met Gly Leu Phe Ile Gly Ala Ser Leu Leu Thr Ile 415 420 425 ctc gag atc cta gac tac ctc tgt gag gtg ttc cga gac aag gtc ctg 1407 Leu Glu Ile Leu Asp Tyr Leu Cys Glu Val Phe Arg Asp Lys Val Leu 430 435 440 gga tat ttc tgg aac cga cag cac tcc caa agg cac tcc agc acc aat 1455 Gly Tyr Phe Trp Asn Arg Gln His Ser Gln Arg His Ser Ser Thr Asn 445 450 455 460 ctg acc tcc cac ccc tcc ctg tgc cgt cac caa gac tct ctc cgc ctc 1503 Leu Thr Ser His Pro Ser Leu Cys Arg His Gln Asp Ser Leu Arg Leu 465 470 475 cca ccg cac ctg cta cct tgt cac aca gct cta gac ctg ctg tct gtg 1551 Pro Pro His Leu Leu Pro Cys His Thr Ala Leu Asp Leu Leu Ser Val 480 485 490 tcc tcg gag ccc cgc cct gac atc ctg gac atg cct agc ctg cac gta 1599 Ser Ser Glu Pro Arg Pro Asp Ile Leu Asp Met Pro Ser Leu His Val 495 500 505 gct ttt ccg tct tca ccc caa ata aag tcc taa tgcatcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1652 Ala Phe Pro Ser Ser Pro Gln Ile Lys Ser 510 515 aaaaaaactc gagggggggc ccggtaccca attcgcccta tagtgagtcg tattacaat 1711 4 518 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met His Gly Leu Gly His Val Phe Gly Pro Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Arg 1 5 10 15 Arg Gly Met Trp Ala Ala Ala Val Val Leu Ser Val Ala Thr Phe Leu 20 25 30 Tyr Gln Val Ala Glu Arg Val Arg Tyr Tyr Arg Glu Phe His His Gln 35 40 45 Thr Ala Leu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ser His Arg Leu Ile Phe Pro Ala Val 50 55 60 Thr Leu Cys Asn Ile Asn Pro Leu Arg Arg Ser Arg Leu Thr Pro Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Leu His Trp Ala Gly Ser Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Asp Pro Ala Glu 85 90 95 His Ala Ala Phe Leu Arg Ala Leu Gly Arg Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly 100 105 110 Phe Met Pro Ser Pro Thr Phe Asp Met Ala Gln Leu Tyr Ala Arg Ala 115 120 125 Gly His Ser Leu Asp Asp Met Leu Leu Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg Gly Gln 130 135 140 Pro Cys Gly Pro Glu Asn Phe Thr Thr Ile Phe Thr Arg Met Gly Lys 145 150 155 160 Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Ser Gly Ala Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Leu Thr Thr 165 170 175 Thr Arg Gly Gly Met Gly Asn Gly Leu Asp Ile Met Leu Asp Val Gln 180 185 190 Gln Glu Glu Tyr Leu Pro Val Trp Arg Asp Asn Glu Glu Thr Pro Phe 195 200 205 Glu Val Gly Ile Arg Val Gln Ile His Ser Gln Glu Glu Pro Pro Ile 210 215 220 Ile Asp Gln Leu Gly Leu Gly Val Ser Pro Gly Tyr Gln Thr Phe Val 225 230 235 240 Ser Cys Gln Gln Gln Gln Leu Ser Phe Leu Pro Pro Pro Trp Gly Asp 245 250 255 Cys Ser Ser Ala Ser Leu Asn Pro Asn Tyr Glu Pro Glu Pro Ser Asp 260 265 270 Pro Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro Tyr Thr Leu Met 275 280 285 Gly Cys Arg Leu Ala Cys Glu Thr Arg Tyr Val Ala Arg Lys Cys Gly 290 295 300 Cys Arg Met Val Tyr Met Pro Gly Asp Val Pro Val Cys Ser Pro Gln 305 310 315 320 Gln Tyr Lys Asn Cys Ala His Pro Ala Ile Asp Ala Met Leu Arg Lys 325 330 335 Asp Ser Cys Ala Cys Pro Asn Pro Cys Ala Ser Thr Arg Tyr Ala Lys 340 345 350 Glu Leu Ser Met Val Arg Ile Pro Ser Arg Ala Ala Ala Arg Phe Leu 355 360 365 Ala Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Ser Glu Ala Tyr Ile Ala Glu Asn Val Leu 370 375 380 Ala Leu Asp Ile Phe Phe Glu Ala Leu Asn Tyr Glu Thr Val Glu Gln 385 390 395 400 Lys Lys Ala Tyr Glu Met Ser Glu Leu Leu Gly Asp Ile Gly Gly Gln 405 410 415 Met Gly Leu Phe Ile Gly Ala Ser Leu Leu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ile Leu 420 425 430 Asp Tyr Leu Cys Glu Val Phe Arg Asp Lys Val Leu Gly Tyr Phe Trp 435 440 445 Asn Arg Gln His Ser Gln Arg His Ser Ser Thr Asn Leu Thr Ser His 450 455 460 Pro Ser Leu Cys Arg His Gln Asp Ser Leu Arg Leu Pro Pro His Leu 465 470 475 480 Leu Pro Cys His Thr Ala Leu Asp Leu Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Glu Pro 485 490 495 Arg Pro Asp Ile Leu Asp Met Pro Ser Leu His Val Ala Phe Pro Ser 500 505 510 Ser Pro Gln Ile Lys Ser 515 5 1650 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(1647) 5 atg aag ccc acc tca ggc cca gag gag gcc cgg cgg cca gcc tcg gac 48 Met Lys Pro Thr Ser Gly Pro Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg Pro Ala Ser Asp 1 5 10 15 atc cgc gtg ttc gcc agc aac tgc tcg atg cac ggg ctg ggc cac gtc 96 Ile Arg Val Phe Ala Ser Asn Cys Ser Met His Gly Leu Gly His Val 20 25 30 ttc ggg cca ggc agc ctg agc ctg cgc cgg ggg atg tgg gca gcg gcc 144 Phe Gly Pro Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Arg Arg Gly Met Trp Ala Ala Ala 35 40 45 gtg gtc ctg tca gtg gcc acc ttc ctc tac cag gtg gct gag agg gtg 192 Val Val Leu Ser Val Ala Thr Phe Leu Tyr Gln Val Ala Glu Arg Val 50 55 60 cgc tac tac agg gag ttc cac cac cag act gcc ctg gat gag cga gaa 240 Arg Tyr Tyr Arg Glu Phe His His Gln Thr Ala Leu Asp Glu Arg Glu 65 70 75 80 agc cac cgg ctc atc ttc ccg gct gtc acc ctg tgc aac atc aac cca 288 Ser His Arg Leu Ile Phe Pro Ala Val Thr Leu Cys Asn Ile Asn Pro 85 90 95 ctg cgc cgc tcg cgc cta acg ccc aac gac ctg cac tgg gct ggg tct 336 Leu Arg Arg Ser Arg Leu Thr Pro Asn Asp Leu His Trp Ala Gly Ser 100 105 110 gcg ctg ctg ggc ctg gat ccc gca gag cac gcc gcc ttc ctg cgc gcc 384 Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Asp Pro Ala Glu His Ala Ala Phe Leu Arg Ala 115 120 125 ctg ggc cgg ccc cct gca ccg ccc ggc ttc atg ccc agt ccc acc ttt 432 Leu Gly Arg Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Phe Met Pro Ser Pro Thr Phe 130 135 140 gac atg gcg caa ctc tat gcc cgt gct ggg cac tcc ctg gat gac atg 480 Asp Met Ala Gln Leu Tyr Ala Arg Ala Gly His Ser Leu Asp Asp Met 145 150 155 160 ctg ctg gac tgt cgc ttc cgt ggc caa cct tgt ggg cct gag aac ttc 528 Leu Leu Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg Gly Gln Pro Cys Gly Pro Glu Asn Phe 165 170 175 acc acg atc ttc acc cgg atg gga aag tgc tac aca ttt aac tct ggc 576 Thr Thr Ile Phe Thr Arg Met Gly Lys Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Ser Gly 180 185 190 gct gat ggg gca gag ctg ctc acc act act agg ggt ggc atg ggc aat 624 Ala Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Leu Thr Thr Thr Arg Gly Gly Met Gly Asn 195 200 205 ggg ctg gac atc atg ctg gac gtg cag cag gag gaa tat cta cct gtg 672 Gly Leu Asp Ile Met Leu Asp Val Gln Gln Glu Glu Tyr Leu Pro Val 210 215 220 tgg agg gac aat gag gag acc ccg ttt gag gtg ggg atc cga gtg cag 720 Trp Arg Asp Asn Glu Glu Thr Pro Phe Glu Val Gly Ile Arg Val Gln 225 230 235 240 atc cac agc cag gag gag ccg ccc atc atc gat cag ctg ggc ttg ggg 768 Ile His Ser Gln Glu Glu Pro Pro Ile Ile Asp Gln Leu Gly Leu Gly 245 250 255 gtg tcc ccg ggc tac cag acc ttt gtt tct tgc cag cag cag cag ctg 816 Val Ser Pro Gly Tyr Gln Thr Phe Val Ser Cys Gln Gln Gln Gln Leu 260 265 270 agc ttc ctg cca ccg ccc tgg ggc gat tgc agt tca gca tct ctg aac 864 Ser Phe Leu Pro Pro Pro Trp Gly Asp Cys Ser Ser Ala Ser Leu Asn 275 280 285 ccc aac tat gag cca gag ccc tct gat ccc cta ggc tcc ccc agc ccc 912 Pro Asn Tyr Glu Pro Glu Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro 290 295 300 agc ccc agc cct ccc tat acc ctt atg ggg tgt cgc ctg gcc tgc gaa 960 Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro Tyr Thr Leu Met Gly Cys Arg Leu Ala Cys Glu 305 310 315 320 acc cgc tac gtg gct cgg aag tgc ggc tgc cga atg gtg tac atg cca 1008 Thr Arg Tyr Val Ala Arg Lys Cys Gly Cys Arg Met Val Tyr Met Pro 325 330 335 ggc gac gtg cca gtg tgc agc ccc cag cag tac aag aac tgt gcc cac 1056 Gly Asp Val Pro Val Cys Ser Pro Gln Gln Tyr Lys Asn Cys Ala His 340 345 350 ccg gcc ata gat gcc atg ctt cgc aag gac tcg tgc gcc tgc ccc aac 1104 Pro Ala Ile Asp Ala Met Leu Arg Lys Asp Ser Cys Ala Cys Pro Asn 355 360 365 ccg tgc gcc agc acg cgc tac gcc aag gag ctc tcc atg gtg cgg atc 1152 Pro Cys Ala Ser Thr Arg Tyr Ala Lys Glu Leu Ser Met Val Arg Ile 370 375 380 ccg agc cgc gcc gcc gcg cgc ttc ctg gcc cgg aag ctc aac cgc agc 1200 Pro Ser Arg Ala Ala Ala Arg Phe Leu Ala Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Ser 385 390 395 400 gag gcc tac atc gcg gag aac gtg ctg gcc ctg gac atc ttc ttt gag 1248 Glu Ala Tyr Ile Ala Glu Asn Val Leu Ala Leu Asp Ile Phe Phe Glu 405 410 415 gcc ctc aac tat gag acc gtg gag cag aag aag gcc tat gag atg tca 1296 Ala Leu Asn Tyr Glu Thr Val Glu Gln Lys Lys Ala Tyr Glu Met Ser 420 425 430 gag ctg ctt ggt gac att ggg ggc cag atg ggg ctg ttc atc ggg gcc 1344 Glu Leu Leu Gly Asp Ile Gly Gly Gln Met Gly Leu Phe Ile Gly Ala 435 440 445 agc ctg ctc acc atc ctc gag atc cta gac tac ctc tgt gag gtg ttc 1392 Ser Leu Leu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ile Leu Asp Tyr Leu Cys Glu Val Phe 450 455 460 cga gac aag gtc ctg gga tat ttc tgg aac cga cag cac tcc caa agg 1440 Arg Asp Lys Val Leu Gly Tyr Phe Trp Asn Arg Gln His Ser Gln Arg 465 470 475 480 cac tcc agc acc aat ctg ctt cag gaa ggg ctg ggc agc cat cga acc 1488 His Ser Ser Thr Asn Leu Leu Gln Glu Gly Leu Gly Ser His Arg Thr 485 490 495 caa gtt ccc cac ctc agc ctg ggc ccc agc act ctg ctc tgt tcc gaa 1536 Gln Val Pro His Leu Ser Leu Gly Pro Ser Thr Leu Leu Cys Ser Glu 500 505 510 gac ctc cca ccc ctc cct gtg ccg tca cca aga ctc tct ccg cct ccc 1584 Asp Leu Pro Pro Leu Pro Val Pro Ser Pro Arg Leu Ser Pro Pro Pro 515 520 525 acc gca cct gct acc ttg tca cac agc tct aga cct gct gtc tgt gtc 1632 Thr Ala Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser His Ser Ser Arg Pro Ala Val Cys Val 530 535 540 ctc gga gcc ccg ccc tga 1650 Leu Gly Ala Pro Pro 545 6 549 PRT Homo sapiens 6 Met Lys Pro Thr Ser Gly Pro Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg Pro Ala Ser Asp 1 5 10 15 Ile Arg Val Phe Ala Ser Asn Cys Ser Met His Gly Leu Gly His Val 20 25 30 Phe Gly Pro Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Arg Arg Gly Met Trp Ala Ala Ala 35 40 45 Val Val Leu Ser Val Ala Thr Phe Leu Tyr Gln Val Ala Glu Arg Val 50 55 60 Arg Tyr Tyr Arg Glu Phe His His Gln Thr Ala Leu Asp Glu Arg Glu 65 70 75 80 Ser His Arg Leu Ile Phe Pro Ala Val Thr Leu Cys Asn Ile Asn Pro 85 90 95 Leu Arg Arg Ser Arg Leu Thr Pro Asn Asp Leu His Trp Ala Gly Ser 100 105 110 Ala Leu Leu Gly Leu Asp Pro Ala Glu His Ala Ala Phe Leu Arg Ala 115 120 125 Leu Gly Arg Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Phe Met Pro Ser Pro Thr Phe 130 135 140 Asp Met Ala Gln Leu Tyr Ala Arg Ala Gly His Ser Leu Asp Asp Met 145 150 155 160 Leu Leu Asp Cys Arg Phe Arg Gly Gln Pro Cys Gly Pro Glu Asn Phe 165 170 175 Thr Thr Ile Phe Thr Arg Met Gly Lys Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Ser Gly 180 185 190 Ala Asp Gly Ala Glu Leu Leu Thr Thr Thr Arg Gly Gly Met Gly Asn 195 200 205 Gly Leu Asp Ile Met Leu Asp Val Gln Gln Glu Glu Tyr Leu Pro Val 210 215 220 Trp Arg Asp Asn Glu Glu Thr Pro Phe Glu Val Gly Ile Arg Val Gln 225 230 235 240 Ile His Ser Gln Glu Glu Pro Pro Ile Ile Asp Gln Leu Gly Leu Gly 245 250 255 Val Ser Pro Gly Tyr Gln Thr Phe Val Ser Cys Gln Gln Gln Gln Leu 260 265 270 Ser Phe Leu Pro Pro Pro Trp Gly Asp Cys Ser Ser Ala Ser Leu Asn 275 280 285 Pro Asn Tyr Glu Pro Glu Pro Ser Asp Pro Leu Gly Ser Pro Ser Pro 290 295 300 Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro Tyr Thr Leu Met Gly Cys Arg Leu Ala Cys Glu 305 310 315 320 Thr Arg Tyr Val Ala Arg Lys Cys Gly Cys Arg Met Val Tyr Met Pro 325 330 335 Gly Asp Val Pro Val Cys Ser Pro Gln Gln Tyr Lys Asn Cys Ala His 340 345 350 Pro Ala Ile Asp Ala Met Leu Arg Lys Asp Ser Cys Ala Cys Pro Asn 355 360 365 Pro Cys Ala Ser Thr Arg Tyr Ala Lys Glu Leu Ser Met Val Arg Ile 370 375 380 Pro Ser Arg Ala Ala Ala Arg Phe Leu Ala Arg Lys Leu Asn Arg Ser 385 390 395 400 Glu Ala Tyr Ile Ala Glu Asn Val Leu Ala Leu Asp Ile Phe Phe Glu 405 410 415 Ala Leu Asn Tyr Glu Thr Val Glu Gln Lys Lys Ala Tyr Glu Met Ser 420 425 430 Glu Leu Leu Gly Asp Ile Gly Gly Gln Met Gly Leu Phe Ile Gly Ala 435 440 445 Ser Leu Leu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ile Leu Asp Tyr Leu Cys Glu Val Phe 450 455 460 Arg Asp Lys Val Leu Gly Tyr Phe Trp Asn Arg Gln His Ser Gln Arg 465 470 475 480 His Ser Ser Thr Asn Leu Leu Gln Glu Gly Leu Gly Ser His Arg Thr 485 490 495 Gln Val Pro His Leu Ser Leu Gly Pro Ser Thr Leu Leu Cys Ser Glu 500 505 510 Asp Leu Pro Pro Leu Pro Val Pro Ser Pro Arg Leu Ser Pro Pro Pro 515 520 525 Thr Ala Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser His Ser Ser Arg Pro Ala Val Cys Val 530 535 540 Leu Gly Ala Pro Pro 545 7 20 DNA Homo sapiens 7 ggcggccgct ctagaactag 20 8 20 DNA Homo sapiens 8 gctgctggca agaaacaaag 20 9 21 DNA Homo sapiens 9 atttaactct ggcgctgatg g 21 10 20 DNA Homo sapiens 10 gtctaggatc tcgaggatgg 20 11 20 DNA Homo sapiens 11 atgcttcgca aggactcgtg 20 12 21 DNA Homo sapiens 12 gaaaagctac gtgcaggcta g 21 13 526 PRT Rattus norvegicus ASIC 13 Met Glu Leu Lys Thr Glu Glu Glu Glu Val Gly Gly Val Gln Pro Val 1 5 10 15 Ser Ile Gln Ala Phe Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Leu His Gly Leu Ala His 20 25 30 Ile Phe Ser Tyr Glu Arg Leu Ser Leu Lys Arg Ala Leu Trp Ala Leu 35 40 45 Cys Phe Leu Gly Ser Leu Ala Val Leu Leu Cys Val Cys Thr Glu Arg 50 55 60 Val Gln Tyr Tyr Phe Cys Tyr His His Val Thr Lys Leu Asp Glu Val 65 70 75 80 Ala Ala Ser Gln Leu Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Thr Leu Cys Asn Leu Asn 85 90 95 Glu Phe Arg Phe Ser Gln Val Ser Lys Asn Asp Leu Tyr His Ala Gly 100 105 110 Glu Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu Asn Asn Arg Tyr Glu Ile Pro Asp Thr Gln 115 120 125 Met Ala Asp Glu Lys Gln Leu Glu Ile Leu Gln Asp Lys Ala Asn Phe 130 135 140 Arg Ser Phe Lys Pro Lys Pro Phe Asn Met Arg Glu Phe Tyr Asp Arg 145 150 155 160 Ala Gly His Asp Ile Arg Asp Met Leu Leu Ser Cys His Phe Arg Gly 165 170 175 Glu Ala Cys Ser Ala Glu Asp Phe Lys Val Val Phe Thr Arg Tyr Gly 180 185 190 Lys Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Ser Gly Gln Asp Gly Arg Pro Arg Leu Lys 195 200 205 Thr Met Lys Gly Gly Thr Gly Asn Gly Leu Glu Ile Met Leu Asp Ile 210 215 220 Gln Gln Asp Glu Tyr Leu Pro Val Trp Gly Glu Thr Asp Glu Thr Ser 225 230 235 240 Phe Glu Ala Gly Ile Lys Val Gln Ile His Ser Gln Asp Glu Pro Pro 245 250 255 Phe Ile Asp Gln Leu Gly Phe Gly Val Ala Pro Gly Phe Gln Thr Phe 260 265 270 Val Ser Cys Gln Glu Gln Arg Leu Ile Tyr Leu Pro Ser Pro Trp Gly 275 280 285 Thr Cys Asn Ala Val Thr Met Asp Ser Asp Phe Phe Asp Ser Tyr Ser 290 295 300 Ile Thr Ala Cys Arg Ile Asp Cys Glu Thr Arg Tyr Leu Val Glu Asn 305 310 315 320 Cys Asn Cys Arg Met Val His Met Pro Gly Asp Ala Pro Tyr Cys Thr 325 330 335 Pro Glu Gln Tyr Lys Glu Cys Ala Asp Pro Ala Leu Asp Phe Leu Val 340 345 350 Glu Lys Asp Gln Glu Tyr Cys Val Cys Glu Met Pro Cys Asn Leu Thr 355 360 365 Arg Tyr Gly Lys Glu Leu Ser Met Val Lys Ile Pro Ser Lys Ala Ser 370 375 380 Ala Lys Tyr Leu Ala Lys Lys Phe Asn Lys Ser Glu Gln Tyr Ile Gly 385 390 395 400 Glu Asn Ile Leu Val Leu Asp Ile Phe Phe Glu Val Leu Asn Tyr Glu 405 410 415 Thr Ile Glu Gln Lys Lys Ala Tyr Glu Ile Ala Gly Leu Leu Gly Asp 420 425 430 Ile Gly Gly Gln Met Gly Leu Phe Ile Gly Ala Ser Ile Leu Thr Val 435 440 445 Leu Glu Leu Phe Asp Tyr Ala Tyr Glu Val Ile Lys His Arg Leu Cys 450 455 460 Arg Arg Gly Lys Cys Gln Lys Glu Ala Lys Arg Ser Ser Ala Asp Lys 465 470 475 480 Gly Val Ala Leu Ser Leu Asp Asp Val Lys Arg His Asn Pro Cys Glu 485 490 495 Ser Leu Arg Gly His Pro Ala Gly Met Thr Tyr Ala Ala Asn Ile Leu 500 505 510 Pro His His Pro Ala Arg Gly Thr Phe Glu Asp Phe Thr Cys 515 520 525 14 512 PRT Homo sapiens MDEG 14 Met Asp Leu Lys Glu Ser Pro Ser Glu Gly Ser Leu Gln Pro Ser Ser 1 5 10 15 Ile Gln Ile Phe Ala Asn Thr Ser Thr Leu His Gly Ile Arg His Ile 20 25 30 Phe Val Tyr Gly Pro Leu Thr Ile Arg Arg Val Leu Trp Ala Val Ala 35 40 45 Phe Val Gly Ser Leu Gly Leu Leu Leu Val Glu Ser Ser Glu Arg Val 50 55 60 Ser Tyr Tyr Phe Ser Tyr Gln His Val Thr Lys Val Asp Glu Val Val 65 70 75 80 Ala Gln Ser Leu Val Phe Pro Ala Val Thr Leu Cys Asn Leu Asn Gly 85 90 95 Phe Arg Phe Ser Arg Leu Thr Thr Asn Asp Leu Tyr His Ala Gly Glu 100 105 110 Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu Asp Val Asn Leu Gln Ile Pro Asp Pro His Leu 115 120 125 Ala Asp Pro Ser Val Leu Glu Ala Leu Arg Gln Lys Ala Asn Phe Lys 130 135 140 His Tyr Lys Pro Lys Gln Phe Ser Met Leu Glu Phe Leu His Arg Val 145 150 155 160 Gly His Asp Leu Lys Asp Met Met Leu Tyr Cys Lys Phe Lys Gly Gln 165 170 175 Glu Cys Gly His Gln Asp Phe Thr Thr Val Phe Thr Lys Tyr Gly Lys 180 185 190 Cys Tyr Met Phe Asn Ser Gly Glu Asp Gly Lys Pro Leu Leu Thr Thr 195 200 205 Val Lys Gly Gly Thr Gly Asn Gly Leu Glu Ile Met Leu Asp Ile Gln 210 215 220 Gln Asp Glu Tyr Leu Pro Ile Trp Gly Glu Thr Glu Glu Thr Thr Phe 225 230 235 240 Glu Ala Gly Val Lys Val Gln Ile His Ser Gln Ser Glu Pro Pro Phe 245 250 255 Ile Gln Glu Leu Gly Phe Gly Val Ala Pro Gly Phe Gln Thr Phe Val 260 265 270 Ala Thr Gln Glu Gln Arg Leu Thr Tyr Leu Pro Pro Pro Trp Gly Glu 275 280 285 Cys Arg Ser Ser Glu Met Gly Leu Asp Phe Phe Pro Val Tyr Ser Ile 290 295 300 Thr Ala Cys Arg Ile Asp Cys Glu Thr Arg Tyr Ile Val Glu Asn Cys 305 310 315 320 Asn Cys Arg Met Val His Met Pro Gly Asp Ala Pro Phe Cys Thr Pro 325 330 335 Glu Gln His Lys Glu Cys Ala Glu Pro Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Ala Glu 340 345 350 Lys Asp Ser Asn Tyr Cys Leu Cys Arg Thr Pro Cys Asn Leu Thr Arg 355 360 365 Tyr Asn Lys Glu Leu Ser Met Val Lys Ile Pro Ser Lys Thr Ser Ala 370 375 380 Lys Tyr Leu Glu Lys Lys Phe Asn Lys Ser Glu Lys Tyr Ile Ser Glu 385 390 395 400 Asn Ile Leu Val Leu Asp Ile Phe Phe Glu Ala Leu Asn Tyr Glu Thr 405 410 415 Ile Glu Gln Lys Lys Ala Tyr Glu Val Ala Ala Leu Leu Gly Asp Ile 420 425 430 Gly Gly Gln Met Gly Leu Phe Ile Gly Ala Ser Ile Leu Thr Ile Leu 435 440 445 Glu Leu Phe Asp Tyr Ile Tyr Glu Leu Ile Lys Glu Lys Leu Leu Asp 450 455 460 Leu Leu Gly Lys Glu Glu Asp Glu Gly Ser His Asp Glu Asn Val Ser 465 470 475 480 Thr Cys Asp Thr Met Pro Asn His Ser Glu Thr Ile Ser His Thr Val 485 490 495 Asn Val Pro Leu Gln Thr Thr Leu Gly Thr Leu Glu Glu Ile Ala Cys 500 505 510 15 669 PRT Homo sapiens HNACHA 15 Met Glu Gly Asn Lys Leu Glu Glu Gln Asp Ser Ser Pro Pro Gln Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Gly Leu Met Lys Gly Asn Lys Arg Glu Glu Gln Gly Leu Gly 20 25 30 Pro Glu Pro Ala Ala Pro Gln Gln Pro Thr Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Leu 35 40 45 Ile Glu Phe His Arg Ser Tyr Arg Glu Leu Phe Glu Phe Phe Cys Asn 50 55 60 Asn Thr Thr Ile His Gly Ala Ile Arg Leu Val Cys Ser Gln His Asn 65 70 75 80 Arg Met Lys Thr Ala Phe Trp Ala Val Leu Trp Leu Cys Thr Phe Gly 85 90 95 Met Met Tyr Trp Gln Phe Gly Leu Leu Phe Gly Glu Tyr Phe Ser Tyr 100 105 110 Pro Val Ser Leu Asn Ile Asn Leu Asn Ser Asp Lys Leu Val Phe Pro 115 120 125 Ala Val Thr Ile Cys Thr Leu Asn Pro Tyr Arg Tyr Pro Glu Ile Lys 130 135 140 Glu Glu Leu Glu Glu Leu Asp Arg Ile Thr Glu Gln Thr Leu Phe Asp 145 150 155 160 Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Ser Ser Phe Thr Thr Leu Val Ala Gly Ser Arg Ser 165 170 175 Arg Arg Asp Leu Arg Gly Thr Leu Pro His Pro Leu Gln Arg Leu Arg 180 185 190 Val Pro Pro Pro Pro His Gly Ala Arg Arg Ala Arg Ser Val Ala Ser 195 200 205 Ser Leu Arg Asp Asn Asn Pro Gln Val Asp Trp Lys Asp Trp Lys Ile 210 215 220 Gly Phe Gln Leu Cys Asn Gln Asn Lys Ser Asp Cys Phe Tyr Gln Thr 225 230 235 240 Tyr Ser Ser Gly Val Asp Ala Val Arg Glu Trp Tyr Arg Phe His Tyr 245 250 255 Ile Asn Ile Leu Ser Arg Leu Pro Glu Thr Leu Pro Ser Leu Glu Glu 260 265 270 Asp Thr Leu Gly Asn Phe Ile Phe Ala Cys Arg Phe Asn Gln Val Ser 275 280 285 Cys Asn Gln Ala Asn Tyr Ser His Phe His His Pro Met Tyr Gly Asn 290 295 300 Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Asp Lys Asn Asn Ser Asn Leu Trp Met Ser Ser 305 310 315 320 Met Pro Gly Ile Asn Asn Gly Leu Ser Leu Met Leu Arg Ala Glu Gln 325 330 335 Asn Asp Phe Ile Pro Leu Leu Ser Thr Val Thr Gly Ala Arg Val Met 340 345 350 Val His Gly Gln Asp Glu Pro Ala Phe Met Asp Asp Gly Gly Phe Asn 355 360 365 Leu Arg Pro Gly Val Glu Thr Ser Ile Ser Met Arg Lys Glu Thr Leu 370 375 380 Asp Arg Leu Gly Gly Asp Tyr Gly Asp Cys Thr Lys Asn Gly Ser Asp 385 390 395 400 Val Pro Val Glu Asn Leu Tyr Pro Ser Lys Tyr Thr Gln Gln Val Cys 405 410 415 Ile His Ser Cys Phe Gln Glu Ser Met Ile Lys Glu Cys Gly Cys Ala 420 425 430 Tyr Ile Phe Tyr Pro Arg Pro Gln Asn Val Glu Tyr Cys Asp Tyr Arg 435 440 445 Lys His Ser Ser Trp Gly Tyr Cys Tyr Tyr Lys Leu Gln Val Asp Phe 450 455 460 Ser Ser Asp His Leu Gly Cys Phe Thr Lys Cys Arg Lys Pro Cys Ser 465 470 475 480 Val Thr Ser Tyr Gln Leu Ser Ala Gly Tyr Ser Arg Trp Pro Ser Val 485 490 495 Thr Ser Gln Glu Trp Val Phe Gln Met Leu Ser Arg Gln Asn Asn Tyr 500 505 510 Thr Val Asn Asn Lys Arg Asn Gly Val Ala Lys Val Asn Ile Phe Phe 515 520 525 Lys Glu Leu Asn Tyr Lys Thr Asn Ser Glu Ser Pro Ser Val Thr Met 530 535 540 Val Thr Leu Leu Ser Asn Leu Gly Ser Gln Trp Ser Leu Trp Phe Gly 545 550 555 560 Ser Ser Val Leu Ser Val Val Glu Met Ala Glu Leu Val Phe Asp Leu 565 570 575 Leu Val Ile Met Phe Leu Met Leu Leu Arg Arg Phe Arg Ser Arg Tyr 580 585 590 Trp Ser Pro Gly Arg Gly Gly Arg Gly Ala Gln Glu Val Ala Ser Thr 595 600 605 Leu Ala Ser Ser Pro Pro Ser His Phe Cys Pro His Pro Met Ser Leu 610 615 620 Ser Leu Ser Gln Pro Gly Pro Ala Pro Ser Pro Ala Leu Thr Ala Pro 625 630 635 640 Pro Pro Ala Tyr Ala Thr Leu Gly Pro Arg Pro Ser Pro Gly Gly Ser 645 650 655 Ala Gly Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Cys Pro Leu Gly Gly Pro 660 665 16 640 PRT Homo sapiens HNACHB 16 Met His Val Lys Lys Tyr Leu Leu Lys Gly Leu His Arg Leu Gln Lys 1 5 10 15 Gly Pro Gly Tyr Thr Tyr Lys Glu Leu Leu Val Trp Tyr Cys Asp Asn 20 25 30 Thr Asn Thr His Gly Pro Lys Arg Ile Ile Cys Glu Gly Pro Lys Lys 35 40 45 Lys Ala Met Trp Phe Leu Leu Thr Leu Leu Phe Ala Ala Leu Val Cys 50 55 60 Trp Gln Trp Gly Ile Phe Ile Arg Thr Tyr Leu Ser Trp Glu Val Ser 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Leu Ser Val Gly Phe Lys Thr Met Asp Phe Pro Ala Val Thr 85 90 95 Ile Cys Asn Ala Ser Pro Phe Lys Tyr Ser Lys Ile Lys His Leu Leu 100 105 110 Lys Asp Leu Asp Glu Leu Met Glu Ala Val Leu Glu Arg Ile Leu Ala 115 120 125 Pro Glu Leu Ser His Ala Asn Ala Thr Arg Asn Leu Asn Phe Ser Ile 130 135 140 Trp Asn His Thr Pro Leu Val Leu Ile Asp Glu Arg Asn Pro His His 145 150 155 160 Pro Met Val Leu Asp Leu Phe Gly Asp Asn His Asn Gly Leu Thr Ser 165 170 175 Ser Ser Ala Ser Glu Lys Ile Cys Asn Ala His Gly Cys Lys Met Ala 180 185 190 Met Arg Leu Cys Ser Leu Asn Arg Thr Gln Cys Thr Phe Arg Asn Phe 195 200 205 Thr Ser Ala Thr Gln Ala Leu Thr Glu Trp Tyr Ile Leu Gln Ala Thr 210 215 220 Asn Ile Phe Ala Gln Val Pro Gln Gln Glu Leu Val Glu Met Ser Tyr 225 230 235 240 Pro Gly Glu Gln Met Ile Leu Ala Cys Leu Phe Gly Ala Glu Pro Cys 245 250 255 Asn Tyr Arg Asn Phe Thr Ser Ile Phe Tyr Pro His Tyr Gly Asn Cys 260 265 270 Tyr Ile Phe Asn Trp Gly Met Thr Glu Lys Ala Leu Pro Ser Ala Asn 275 280 285 Pro Gly Thr Glu Phe Gly Leu Lys Leu Ile Leu Asp Ile Gly Gln Glu 290 295 300 Asp Tyr Val Pro Phe Leu Ala Ser Thr Gly Gly Val Arg Leu Met Leu 305 310 315 320 His Glu Gln Arg Ser Tyr Pro Phe Ile Arg Asp Glu Gly Ile Tyr Ala 325 330 335 Met Ser Gly Thr Glu Thr Ser Ile Gly Val Leu Val Asp Lys Leu Gln 340 345 350 Arg Met Gly Glu Pro Tyr Ser Pro Cys Thr Val Asn Gly Ser Glu Val 355 360 365 Pro Val Gln Asn Phe Tyr Ser Asp Tyr Asn Thr Thr Tyr Ser Ile Gln 370 375 380 Ala Cys Leu Arg Ser Cys Phe Gln Asp His Met Ile Arg Asn Cys Asn 385 390 395 400 Cys Gly His Tyr Leu Tyr Pro Leu Pro Arg Gly Glu Lys Tyr Cys Asn 405 410 415 Asn Arg Asp Phe Pro Asp Trp Ala His Cys Tyr Ser Asp Leu Gln Met 420 425 430 Ser Val Ala Gln Arg Glu Thr Cys Ile Gly Met Cys Lys Glu Ser Cys 435 440 445 Asn Asp Thr Gln Tyr Lys Met Thr Ile Ser Met Ala Asp Trp Pro Ser 450 455 460 Glu Ala Ser Glu Asp Trp Ile Phe His Val Leu Ser Gln Glu Arg Asp 465 470 475 480 Gln Ser Thr Asn Ile Thr Leu Ser Arg Lys Gly Ile Val Lys Leu Asn 485 490 495 Ile Tyr Phe Gln Glu Phe Asn Tyr Arg Thr Ile Glu Glu Ser Ala Ala 500 505 510 Asn Asn Ile Val Trp Leu Leu Ser Asn Leu Gly Gly Gln Phe Gly Phe 515 520 525 Trp Met Gly Gly Ser Val Leu Cys Leu Ile Glu Phe Gly Glu Ile Ile 530 535 540 Ile Asp Phe Val Trp Ile Thr Ile Ile Lys Leu Val Ala Leu Ala Lys 545 550 555 560 Ser Leu Arg Gln Arg Arg Ala Gln Ala Ser Tyr Ala Gly Pro Pro Pro 565 570 575 Thr Val Ala Glu Leu Val Glu Ala His Thr Asn Phe Gly Phe Gln Pro 580 585 590 Asp Thr Ala Pro Arg Ser Pro Asn Thr Gly Pro Tyr Pro Ser Glu Gln 595 600 605 Ala Leu Pro Ile Pro Gly Thr Pro Pro Pro Asn Tyr Asp Ser Leu Arg 610 615 620 Leu Gln Pro Leu Asp Val Ile Glu Ser Asp Ser Glu Gly Asp Ala Ile 625 630 635 640 17 649 PRT Homo sapiens HNACHC 17 Met Ala Pro Gly Glu Lys Ile Lys Ala Lys Ile Lys Lys Asn Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Gly Pro Gln Ala Pro Thr Ile Lys Glu Leu Met Arg Trp Tyr 20 25 30 Cys Leu Asn Thr Asn Thr His Gly Cys Arg Arg Ile Val Val Ser Arg 35 40 45 Gly Arg Leu Arg Arg Leu Leu Trp Ile Gly Phe Thr Leu Thr Ala Val 50 55 60 Ala Leu Ile Leu Trp Gln Cys Ala Leu Leu Val Phe Ser Phe Tyr Thr 65 70 75 80 Val Ser Val Ser Ile Lys Val His Phe Arg Lys Leu Asp Phe Pro Ala 85 90 95 Val Thr Ile Cys Asn Ile Asn Pro Tyr Lys Tyr Ser Thr Val Arg His 100 105 110 Leu Leu Ala Asp Leu Glu Gln Glu Thr Arg Glu Ala Leu Lys Ser Leu 115 120 125 Tyr Gly Phe Pro Glu Ser Arg Lys Arg Arg Glu Ala Glu Ser Trp Asn 130 135 140 Ser Val Ser Glu Gly Lys Gln Pro Arg Phe Ser His Arg Ile Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Leu Ile Phe Asp Gln Asp Glu Lys Gly Lys Ala Arg Asp Phe Phe Thr 165 170 175 Gly Arg Lys Arg Lys Val Gly Gly Ser Ile Ile His Lys Ala Ser Asn 180 185 190 Val Met His Ile Glu Ser Lys Gln Val Val Gly Phe Gln Leu Cys Ser 195 200 205 Asn Asp Thr Ser Asp Cys Ala Thr Tyr Thr Phe Ser Ser Gly Ile Asn 210 215 220 Ala Ile Gln Glu Trp Tyr Lys Leu His Tyr Met Asn Ile Met Ala Gln 225 230 235 240 Val Pro Leu Glu Lys Lys Ile Asn Met Ser Tyr Ser Ala Glu Glu Leu 245 250 255 Leu Val Thr Cys Phe Phe Asp Gly Val Ser Cys Asp Ala Arg Asn Phe 260 265 270 Thr Leu Phe His His Pro Met His Gly Asn Cys Tyr Thr Phe Asn Asn 275 280 285 Arg Glu Asn Glu Thr Ile Leu Ser Thr Ser Met Gly Gly Ser Glu Tyr 290 295 300 Gly Leu Gln Val Ile Leu Tyr Ile Asn Glu Glu Glu Tyr Asn Pro Phe 305 310 315 320 Leu Val Ser Ser Thr Gly Ala Lys Val Ile Ile His Arg Gln Asp Glu 325 330 335 Tyr Pro Ser Val Glu Asp Val Gly Thr Glu Ile Glu Thr Thr Met Val 340 345 350 Thr Ser Ile Gly Met His Leu Thr Glu Ser Phe Lys Leu Ser Glu Pro 355 360 365 Ser Ser Gln Cys Thr Glu Gly Gly Ser Asp Val Pro Ile Arg Asn Ile 370 375 380 Tyr Asn Ala Ala Tyr Ser Leu Gln Ile Cys Leu His Ser Cys Phe Gln 385 390 395 400 Thr Lys Met Val Glu Lys Cys Gly Cys Ala Gln Tyr Ser Gln Pro Leu 405 410 415 Pro Pro Ala Ala Asn Tyr Cys Asn Tyr Gln Gln His Pro Asn Trp Met 420 425 430 Tyr Cys Tyr Tyr Gln Leu His Arg Ala Phe Val Gln Glu Glu Leu Gly 435 440 445 Cys Gln Ser Val Cys Lys Glu Ala Cys Arg Phe Lys Glu Trp Thr Leu 450 455 460 Thr Thr Ser Leu Ala Gln Trp Pro Ser Val Val Ser Glu Lys Trp Leu 465 470 475 480 Leu Pro Val Leu Thr Trp Asp Gln Gly Arg Gln Val Asn Lys Lys Leu 485 490 495 Asn Lys Thr Asp Leu Ala Lys Leu Leu Ile Phe Tyr Lys Asp Leu Asn 500 505 510 Gln Arg Ser Ile Met Glu Ser Pro Ala Asn Ser Ile Glu Met Leu Leu 515 520 525 Ser Asn Phe Gly Gly Gln Leu Gly Leu Trp Met Ser Cys Ser Val Val 530 535 540 Cys Val Ile Glu Ile Ile Glu Val Phe Phe Ile Asp Phe Phe Ser Ile 545 550 555 560 Ile Ala Arg Arg Gln Trp Gln Lys Ala Lys Glu Trp Trp Ala Trp Lys 565 570 575 Gln Ala Pro Pro Cys Pro Glu Ala Pro Arg Ser Pro Gln Gly Gln Asp 580 585 590 Asn Pro Ala Leu Asp Ile Asp Asp Asp Leu Pro Thr Phe Asn Ser Ala 595 600 605 Leu His Leu Pro Pro Ala Leu Gly Thr Gln Val Pro Gly Thr Pro Pro 610 615 620 Pro Lys Tyr Asn Thr Leu Arg Leu Glu Arg Ala Phe Ser Asn Gln Leu 625 630 635 640 Thr Asp Thr Gln Met Leu Asp Glu Leu 645 18 638 PRT Homo sapiens HNACHD 18 Met Ala Glu His Arg Ser Met Asp Gly Arg Met Glu Ala Ala Thr Arg 1 5 10 15 Gly Gly Ser His Leu Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln Thr Pro Pro Arg Pro Gly 20 25 30 Pro Pro Ser Ala Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Lys Glu Gly His Gln Glu Gly 35 40 45 Leu Val Glu Leu Pro Ala Ser Phe Arg Glu Leu Leu Thr Phe Phe Cys 50 55 60 Thr Asn Ala Thr Ile His Gly Ala Ile Arg Leu Val Cys Ser Arg Gly 65 70 75 80 Asn Arg Leu Lys Thr Thr Ser Trp Gly Leu Leu Ser Leu Gly Ala Leu 85 90 95 Val Ala Leu Cys Trp Gln Leu Gly Leu Leu Phe Glu Arg His Trp His 100 105 110 Arg Pro Val Leu Met Ala Val Ser Val His Ser Glu Arg Lys Leu Leu 115 120 125 Pro Leu Val Thr Leu Cys Asp Gly Asn Pro Arg Arg Pro Ser Pro Val 130 135 140 Leu Arg His Leu Glu Leu Leu Asp Glu Phe Ala Arg Glu Asn Ile Asp 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Tyr Asn Val Asn Leu Ser Lys Gly Arg Ala Ala Leu Ser Ala 165 170 175 Thr Val Pro Arg His Glu Pro Pro Phe His Leu Asp Arg Glu Ile Arg 180 185 190 Leu Gln Arg Leu Ser His Ser Gly Ser Arg Val Arg Val Gly Phe Arg 195 200 205 Leu Cys Asn Ser Thr Gly Gly Asp Cys Phe Tyr Arg Gly Tyr Thr Ser 210 215 220 Gly Val Ala Ala Val Gln Asp Trp Tyr His Phe His Tyr Val Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Leu Ala Leu Leu Pro Ala Ala Trp Glu Asp Ser His Gly Ser Gln Asp 245 250 255 Gly His Phe Val Leu Ser Cys Ser Tyr Asp Gly Leu Asp Cys Gln Ala 260 265 270 Arg Gln Phe Arg Thr Phe His His Pro Thr Tyr Gly Ser Cys Tyr Thr 275 280 285 Val Asp Gly Val Trp Thr Ala Gln Arg Pro Gly Ile Thr His Gly Val 290 295 300 Gly Leu Val Leu Arg Val Glu Gln Gln Pro His Leu Pro Leu Leu Ser 305 310 315 320 Thr Leu Ala Gly Ile Arg Val Met Val His Gly Arg Asn His Thr Pro 325 330 335 Phe Leu Gly His His Ser Phe Ser Val Arg Pro Gly Thr Glu Ala Thr 340 345 350 Ile Ser Ile Arg Glu Asp Glu Val His Arg Leu Gly Ser Pro Tyr Gly 355 360 365 His Cys Thr Ala Gly Gly Glu Gly Val Glu Val Glu Leu Leu His Asn 370 375 380 Thr Ser Tyr Thr Arg Gln Ala Cys Leu Val Ser Cys Phe Gln Gln Leu 385 390 395 400 Met Val Glu Thr Cys Ser Cys Gly Tyr Tyr Leu His Pro Leu Pro Ala 405 410 415 Gly Ala Glu Tyr Cys Ser Ser Ala Arg His Pro Ala Trp Gly His Cys 420 425 430 Phe Tyr Arg Leu Tyr Gln Asp Leu Glu Thr His Arg Leu Pro Cys Thr 435 440 445 Ser Arg Cys Pro Arg Pro Cys Arg Glu Ser Ala Phe Lys Leu Ser Thr 450 455 460 Gly Thr Ser Arg Trp Pro Ser Ala Lys Ser Ala Gly Trp Thr Leu Ala 465 470 475 480 Thr Leu Gly Glu Gln Gly Leu Pro His Gln Ser His Arg Gln Arg Ser 485 490 495 Ser Leu Ala Lys Ile Asn Ile Val Tyr Gln Glu Leu Asn Tyr Arg Ser 500 505 510 Val Glu Glu Ala Pro Val Tyr Ser Val Pro Gln Leu Leu Ser Ala Met 515 520 525 Gly Ser Leu Tyr Ser Leu Trp Phe Gly Ala Ser Val Leu Ser Leu Leu 530 535 540 Glu Leu Leu Glu Leu Leu Leu Asp Ala Ser Ala Leu Thr Leu Val Leu 545 550 555 560 Gly Gly Arg Arg Leu Arg Arg Ala Trp Phe Ser Trp Pro Arg Ala Ser 565 570 575 Pro Ala Ser Gly Ala Ser Ser Ile Lys Pro Glu Ala Ser Gln Met Pro 580 585 590 Pro Pro Ala Gly Gly Thr Ser Asp Asp Pro Glu Pro Ser Gly Pro His 595 600 605 Leu Pro Arg Val Met Leu Pro Gly Val Leu Ala Gly Val Ser Ala Glu 610 615 620 Glu Ser Trp Ala Gly Pro Gln Pro Leu Glu Thr Leu Asp Thr 625 630 635 19 515 PRT Helix aspersa HAFANAC 19 Met Lys Tyr Thr Ser Ala Ala Thr Lys Pro Gly Val Phe Pro Glu His 1 5 10 15 His Gln His Ala Met Met Arg Asn Arg Tyr His Pro His His Cys Asn 20 25 30 Tyr Ser Asp Asn Arg Ser Ala Ile Asp Ile Ile Ala Glu Leu Gly Ser 35 40 45 Glu Ser Asn Ala His Gly Leu Ala Lys Ile Val Thr Ser Arg Asp Thr 50 55 60 Lys Arg Lys Val Ile Trp Ala Leu Leu Val Ile Ala Gly Phe Thr Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Thr Leu Gln Leu Ser Leu Leu Val Arg Lys Tyr Leu Gln Phe Gln 85 90 95 Val Val Glu Leu Ser Glu Ile Lys Asp Ser Met Pro Val Gln Tyr Pro 100 105 110 Ser Val Ser Ile Cys Asn Ile Glu Pro Ile Ser Leu Arg Thr Ile Arg 115 120 125 Arg Met Tyr Phe Asn Asn Glu Ser Gln Asn Leu Ile Thr Trp Leu Arg 130 135 140 Phe Ile Gln Lys Phe Arg Phe Glu Gln Asp Ser Phe Met Asn Ser Ile 145 150 155 160 Arg Ala Phe Tyr Glu Asn Leu Gly Gln Asp Ala Lys Lys Leu Ser His 165 170 175 Asn Leu Glu Asp Met Leu Met His Cys Arg Phe Asn Arg Glu Leu Cys 180 185 190 His Val Ser Asn Phe Ser Thr Phe Phe Asp Gly Asn Tyr Phe Asn Cys 195 200 205 Phe Thr Phe Asn Ser Gly Gln Arg Leu Gln Met His Ala Thr Gly Pro 210 215 220 Glu Asn Gly Leu Ser Leu Ile Phe Ser Val Glu Lys Asp Asp Pro Leu 225 230 235 240 Pro Gly Thr Tyr Gly Val Tyr Asn Phe Asp Asn Asn Ile Leu His Ser 245 250 255 Ala Gly Val Arg Val Val Val His Ala Pro Gly Ser Met Pro Ser Pro 260 265 270 Val Asp His Gly Ile Asp Ile Pro Pro Gly Tyr Ser Ser Ser Val Gly 275 280 285 Leu Lys Ala Ile Leu His Thr Arg Leu Pro Tyr Pro Tyr Gly Asn Cys 290 295 300 Thr Asn Asp Met Leu Asn Gly Ile Lys Gln Tyr Lys Tyr Thr Phe Phe 305 310 315 320 Ala Cys Leu Gln Leu Cys Lys Gln Arg Leu Ile Ile Gln Arg Cys Gly 325 330 335 Cys Lys Ser Ser Ala Leu Pro Glu Val Pro Ser Tyr Asn Ala Thr Phe 340 345 350 Cys Gly Val Ile Lys Asp Trp Gln Glu Ile Asn Arg Asn His Ser Asn 355 360 365 Glu Asp His Asn Gln Ser Glu Glu Asp Arg Ala Phe Ile Pro Thr Pro 370 375 380 Tyr Leu Ala Cys Glu Glu Arg Glu Gln Lys Asn Leu Asn Asn Asp Arg 385 390 395 400 Thr Tyr Glu Leu Ser Cys Gly Cys Phe Gln Pro Cys Ser Glu Thr Ser 405 410 415 Tyr Leu Lys Ser Val Ser Leu Ser Tyr Trp Pro Leu Glu Phe Tyr Gln 420 425 430 Leu Ser Ala Val Glu Arg Phe Phe Lys Gln Glu Arg Gln Ala Gly Gln 435 440 445 Asn His Phe Met Lys Thr Ala Tyr Glu Tyr Leu Glu Lys Leu Ala His 450 455 460 Pro Ser Gln Lys His Leu Ala Arg Asn Asp Ser His Met Asp Asp Ile 465 470 475 480 Leu Ser Lys Ser Tyr Ser Leu Ser Glu Lys Glu Met Ala Lys Glu Ala 485 490 495 Ser Asp Leu Ile Arg Gln Asn Met Leu Arg Leu Asn Ile Tyr Leu Glu 500 505 510 Asp Leu Ser 515 

1. An isolated polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the hSLNAC1 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 over its entire length; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence, (b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity to the cDNA insert deposited at the ATCC with Deposit Number 97987; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence.
 2. A polynucleotide according to claim 1 which is DNA or RNA.
 3. A polynucleotide according to one of claim 1 and 2 wherein said nucleotide sequence is at least 80% identical to that contained in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 4. A polynucleotide according to claim 3 wherein said nucleotide sequence comprises the hSLNAC1 polypeptide encoding sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 5. A polynucleotide according to claim 3 which is polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 6. A DNA or RNA molecule comprising an expression system, wherein said expression system is capable of producing a hSLNAC1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence, which has at least 80% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO : 2 when said expression system is present in a compatible host cell.
 7. A host cell comprising the expression system of claim
 6. 8. A process for producing a hSLNAC1 polypeptide comprising culturing a host of claim 7 under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide from the culture.
 9. A process for producing a cell which produces a hSLNAC1 polypeptide thereof comprising transforming or transfecting a host cell with the expression system of claim 6 such that the host cell, under appropriate culture conditions, produces a hSLNAC1 polypeptide.
 10. A hSLNAC1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO :2 over its entire length.
 11. The polypeptide of claim 10 which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 12. A hSLNAC1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC
 97987. 13. An a ntibody immunospecific for the hSLNAC1 polypeptide of one of claims 10 to
 12. 14. Use of (a) a therapeutically effective amount of an agonist of hSLNAC1 polypeptide of claims 10 to 12, and/or (b) a polynucleotide according to one of claims 1 to 6 in a form so as to effect production of said hSLNAC1 polypeptide activity in vivo, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a subject in need of enhanced activity or expression of hSLNAC1 polypeptide.
 15. Use of (a) a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist of hSLNAC1 polypeptide of claims 10 to 12, and/or (b) a nucleic acid molecule that inhibits the expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding said hSLNAC1 polypeptide; and/or (c) a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide that competes with said hSLNAC1 polypeptide, for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a subject having need to inhibit activity or expression of hSLNAC1 polypeptide.
 16. A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease in a subject related to expression or activity of hSLNAC1 polypeptide of one of claims 10 to 12 in a subject comprising: (a) determining the presence or absence of a mutation in the nucleotide sequence encoding said hSLNAC1 polypeptide in the genome of said subject; and/or (c) analyzing for the presence or amount of the hSLNAC1 polypeptide expression in a sample derived from said subject.
 17. A process for identifying agonists to hSLNAC1 polypeptide of one of claims 10 to 12 comprising: (a) contacting cells produced by claim 9 with a candidate compound; and (b) determining whether the candidate compound effects a signal generated by activation of the hSLNAC1 polypeptide.
 18. An agonist identified by the method of claim
 17. 19. A process for identifying antagonists to hSLNAC1 polypeptide of one of claims 10 to 12 comprising: (a) contacting said cell produced by claim 9 with an agonist; and (b) determining whether the signal generated by said agonist is diminished in the presence of a candidate compound.
 20. An antagonist identified by the method of claim
 19. 21. An isolated polynycleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO : 4 over its entire length; or a nuclotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence.
 22. The polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 23. A polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 over its entire length.
 24. The polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 25. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 over its entire length; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence.
 26. The polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 5. 27. A polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO : 6 over its entire lenght.
 28. The polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 6. 